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What kind of money do you think teams will offer when Westbrook is a free agent? I have a feeling he's not going to be happy with the offers he gets.
I’d rather buyout Russ and get a future (potentially franchise altering) unprotected FRP down the line than watch 30mm in cap go down the drain.Unless he stays with the lakers, wherever he goes, its more than likely he gets bought out, like his fellow overpriced NBA player Wall. It will suck for the team who gets stuck paying most of Russ' salary.
Money for nothing and Russ' checks for free.
Yeah I know, the team will likely get something in draft picks years down the road. The price of draft picks has really gone up the last few years.
Can't Russ just retire. Save the lakers a few million. I'm sure he's earned enough in his career. I think its close to 300 million.
Russ has 2-3 more years at near MLE money if he tempers his ego.
What kind of money do you think teams will offer when Westbrook is a free agent? I have a feeling he's not going to be happy with the offers he gets.
If he wants to go to a contender it’ll be a 1yr vet min to maybe half of the MLE. If he shows he can contribute he probably gets somewhere around the full MLE the year after.
Look how many solid vets are without a job to start training camp. Most of those guys are going to get the vet min.
Similar question for Schröder: Will he be offered more than the Minimum after his performance at Eurobasket?
They’ll offer him minimum for this year, and he’ll be fine after collecting his $47M buyout.
Few teams actually have more to offer at this point, especially contenders and his last club Houston doesn’t have the rights to sign and trade him. Will be hard for him to get much more than the vet min.
Possibly, if someone really wants to overpay for him. I wouldn't know how he moves the needle for any team though.
NBA owners should look at what NFL contracts are like. A 4 year contract has some guaranteed money up front, but is really a series of one year contracts. When the player really underperforms or is too injured to play, they simply cut him. Kind of harsh, but its saves the team money in the long run. Teamwise its a better way to do business. Paying players that actually play and earn their money, what a concept.
I know that this would never get by the NBA players association, but I have a feeling some financial rules may change in the next NBA collective agreement because of players like Russ and John Wall. Some rules have to be made to protect stupid teams from giving out stupid contracts. Something like the Stepien rule for player contracts.
Perfect candidate for the Suns. They need another ball handler to play alongside booker or CP off the bench. But they just have vet min to give him.
Russ would have to change his entire approach to the game to be a real difference maker. Maybe not the best example but a guy like Melo adjusted his game enough to extend his career. Vince Carter comes to mind. There are probably better examples but that's the most recent one that popped in my head.
Russ could be a huge addition to a team. Could easily be that final piece for a contender but he's too full of himself and has shown zero ability to compromise how he approaches the game. This guy seemingly knows just one approach and that's to make it about himself. Doubt he can let that go. Ego is a powerful thing.
That was a nice game yesterday, wasn't it? Pretty astounding ...
Sarver just got hit with a 10mm fine and they are already in lux tax territory but he’d be a good fit.
Melo had to be blacklisted to change his game. I suspect Russ gets the same treatment and will have to prove himself but he is still a very gifted and durable athlete. He just needs to be a pass first PG and attack the rim like few others can. He is also a very capable defender when he wants to be. He could easily be a 15/8/8 guy in 25 mins a night off the bench.
Darvin Ham is a very underrated addition to the Lakers this offseason. He is an out the mud kind of guy who won’t take .
WB now facing his age and how it changes his game like most legendary vets have done before.
But the combination of WBs bad at ude and how heavily predicated his style of play is based on his athleticism this should be interesting to see unfold.
Totally agree he could be huge in an adjusted role but will his ego allow it?
I’m curious how long Darvin Ham lasts. Could be anywhere from two months to two years. Unfortunately, I can see the Lakers sucking (which I’m happy about) but Ham getting fired super early because Lebron wants to pass the blame off to someone else. But , if Ham gets fired early, he should still get all his money. Anyway. I expect the Lakers to suck still.
Really don't think Russ can change his game tbh. His entire game has always been predicated on his athleticism, ball dominance, and constant attack mode. He can't shoot, he is a turnstile on defense, and unless he has the ball in his hands he's basically invisible. He's also notorious for having a poor BBIQ and making ill-timed decisions, especially in crunch time (lol remember that shot off the backboard in 2014?). I really doubt he can do much to change his game to be an impact player in a more limited role. it's not like he's going to magically become a 38% three point shooter or an elite defensive player at this point in his career
unless a team like Washington wants him back, or some other team that thinks his name alone will generate ticket sales, i really think he is probably going to be out of the NBA after his contract is up
He hasn’t lost much athleticism he just hasn’t gotten better anywhere else.
Remove his chucking and have him as a pass first guy who can slash, get to the bucket, rebound and potentially defend and he’s still solid. He has all the tools to do that if he buys in.
Anthony is significantly bigger, plays the scarcest position and most importantly is a credible shooter, which allows him to play an off-ball role (most of the same went for Carter).
Westbrook has none of those things going for him. The only possible role he could fit into is as a 10-15 mpg backup surrounded by 3-4 shooters on a pseudo contender or treadmill team, but he'd never accept that and those teams wouldn't want the drama that having a big, delusional name in a relatively minimal role would inevitably bring.
They have different skillsets but this is a VERY similar ego comparison. Melo adjusted and Russ has the option to. The off-ball piece and shooting are very important no doubt but so is Russ’ ability to play backup point, distribute, attack and defend. He can easily play his way into another 3 years if he checks his ego.
Also, Melo might be a wing but he is a horrid defender even when he tries.
Russ has the ability to come in as a backup point and run an offense.
^ and I don’t agree with these Vince comparisons. Once Vince got to NJ and he slowly adapted his maturity, skillset as the years went on; those were important keys to his longevity.
Yeah, but like Leetonidas said and I alluded to, even if he tries to convince others he's changed, it still won't matter all that much.
Most players who age well or at least survive into their mid-late 30's, have enough size to slide up a position, play off ball, excel at a particular area of defense or some combination thereof.
If someone wants a backup with a similar style, they can sign Schroder, Bledsoe, Payton or Rondo.
Agreed. This is all on Russ to salvage his last 3-5 years. I’m not holding my breath rather arguing he is at a crossroad and can still bounce back.
Schroder to Lakers would seem to spell the end of the notion of Westbrook remaining on the active roster to start the season.
Sitting Russ only lessons his value which is already damn low but it might make them more inclined to consider a bad contract in return now that the PG slot is full. Low risk/high reward signing for the Lakers.
Lakers have to make a decision on 2023 now. Trading Russ for expirngs gives them a near max slot in free agency in 2023 with only AD and LBJ under contract and they will have to fill out the roster with exceptions/min contracts. Alternatively, they can take back 2-3 longer term contracts which they can resign using bird rights or use in a trade, stay well over the cap and still have access to the MLE next summer.
Lol turning down 84 million over 4 years to sign minimum contracts
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