There’s a decent chance that the Washington Wizards will look to trade former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook this summer.
All of this is dependent on whether Bradley Beal requests a trade. If so, Washington’s brass will have to blow it all up and start anew with a rebuild. Westbrook, 32, could offer surprising value in a trade. Last season with Washington, the nine-time All-Star averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists. Those are some staggering numbers right there. If he’s moved, here’s a look at four ideal trade scenarios involving Russ.
Russell Westbrook trade to the Dallas Mavericks
- Wizards get: Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Josh Green
- Mavericks get: Russell Westbrook
There’s a working premise in Dallas that includes the Mavericks moving off Kristaps Porzingis. He has struggled to fill that No. 2 role behind Luka Doncic and is seemingly frustrated in Big D. At issue here is Porzingis’ injury-plagued label and bloated five-year, $158.3 million contract. Right now, he might actually have negative trade value.
Being able to land Westbrook in a trade would be seen as a coup for new Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison. In this hypothetical trade, Dallas entices Washington with 2020 first-round pick Josh Green and the valuable expiring contract of Dwight Powell. The Wizards then take a chance on Porzingis in hopes that he can return to earlier-career form.
Russell Westbrook trade to the New Orleans Pelicans
- Wizards get: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kira Lewis Jr., 17th pick
- Pelicans get: Russell Westbrook
Even after their blockbuster trade with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the week, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Pelicans looked to make another move here. They now have roughly $39 million in cap space and want to make a win-now move. That started with the acquisition of veteran center Jonas Valanciunas in the aforementioned trade and will now likely include targeting a point guard.
In this deal, Washington is able to rid itself of Westbrook’s albatross of a contract while picking up two high-upside young guards and a first-round pick. It would be a way for the powers that be in D.C. to completely start anew with a rebuild, including the potential trade of Bradley Beal.
Russell Westbrook trade to the Chicago Bulls
- Wizards get: Coby White, Tomas Satoransky, Thaddeus Young, future second-round pick
- Bulls get: Russell Westbrook
Recently, the Bulls have been linked to restricted free agent Lonzo Ball. It makes sense with Chicago in win-now mode after pulling off the blockbuster Nikola Vucevic deal with the Orlando Magic ahead of the March NBA trade deadline. Chicago’s brass wants to find a third star to team up with Vucevic and Zach LaVine.
Without much draft capital, the Bulls entice Washington with young guard Coby White as the centerpiece in this deal. The No. 7 overall pick back in 2019, White saw his game improve leaps and bounds as a sophomore. The North Carolina product averaged 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists. While there’s still some concerns over shooting, White could be a central part of a rebuild in D.C. The Wizards also add two players in Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young who could be dealt in separate trades for more assets.
Russell Westbrook trade to the Los Angeles Clippers
- Wizards get: Terance Mann, Ivaca Zubac, Marcus Morris, Patrick Beverley, 25th pick, future first-round pick
- Clippers get: Russell Westbrook
If Washington were to trade Beal, there’d be a chance that they would want to blow the whole thing up. Having already engaged in trade talks with the Los Angeles Lakers involving Westbrook, Washington keeps its attention focused on Southern California here. In the process, it adds a solid young wing in Mann and three veterans who could bring back nice returns in separate trades. Add in two first-round picks, and this would be a coup for Washington.
As for the Clippers, it’s becoming readily apparent that they are looking for an upgrade at point guard. Westbrook would obviously provide that over the likes of Beverley and Rajon Rondo. The only question here is whether Russ and Paul George can coexist after their struggles as teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder years back.