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Woj Bomb: Miami has expressed interest in Russell Westbrook

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Tristan_fiore, Jul 8, 2019.

  1. Corrosion

    Corrosion Member

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    I been thinkin about the idea of WestBrick on the Rockets ….

    My big gest question is with a lineup of Harden , CP3 , WestBrick , Tucker and Capela - Who's defending the 3's and how do you hide CP3 on defense ?

    If WestBrick can consistently guard SF's …. I'd consider making a deal.


    The other question is what we have to give up ? …. Is Shumpert S&T + EG's expiring enough salary ?
     
  2. treyk3

    treyk3 Member

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    You let everyone know you are a lawyer and here you are fighting AGAINST JUSTISE.
     
  3. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article231883203.html

    Oklahoma City has asked the Heat for multiple young, valuable assets in trade conversations involving guard Russell Westbrook, and Miami - at least to this point - has refused, according to a league source briefed by one of the teams.

    OKC has asked the Heat to include impressive rookie guard Tyler Herro in the proposed trade, but the Heat has been very reluctant to do that. Because Herro signed with the Heat on Wednesday, he cannot be included in any trade for 30 days, but that isn’t viewed as an obstacle.

    At another point in the discussions this week, the Thunder asked the Heat to include two among Herro, Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow, according to a source in touch with one of the two teams. The Heat also is opposed to including Adebayo, whom Erik Spoelstra ranked among the best centers in the league in the final months of last season.

    Though the Heat very much would like to add Westbrook, those OKC demands had resulted in a stalement in conversations as of Wednesday evening.

    Whether the Heat would be willing to include Winslow remains to be seen. Though the Heat is pleased with Winslow and views him as a core piece, his value might be diminished somewhat with Westbrook here because Winslow does some of his best work while playing on the ball - an opportunity which would come less frequently with Westbrook on the Heat.

    One reason OKC wants valuable young assets from the Heat stems from the fact that Miami couldn’t give the Thunder any draft picks because OKC - through the Clippers - owns Miami’s first-round picks in 2021 (unprotected) and 2023 (protected).

    ESPN front-office expert Bobby Marks, during a conversation at a summer league game this week, noted that Miami isn’t even permitted to trade another first-round pick because protections on the 2023 pick extend into 2026, and teams cannot trade first-round picks that extend beyond seven years.

    The Heat and OKC would be permitted to amend protections on the 2021 and 2023 picks, or change the years that those two picks will be sent to the Thunder if both sides choose, because the Thunder own both of those Miami picks.

    The Heat is willing to give OKC contracts that add up to slightly more that Westbrook’s $38.5 million salary next season. That’s a necessity because Miami is operating under a $138.9 million hard cap next season and is less than $1 million below that figure, with 14 under contract.

    With OKC seeking short-term contracts, in addition to draft picks or promising cheap young players, any permutation of the trade likely would need to include Goran Dragic, due $19.2 million next season. Meyers Leonard, at $11.2 million, is Miami’s only expiring contract that carries significant money. Any trade involving Leonard cannot be announced until mid-September because of arcane league rules involving players moved in sign-and-trades, as Leonard was in the Jimmy Butler deal.

    Derrick Jones Jr., at $1.6 million, is the other Heat veteran on an expiring deal.

    Others potentially in play include Kelly Olynyk (due $26.1 million over the final two seasons of his contract) and James Johnson (due $31 million). It’s unclear if OKC would have any interest in taking back former Thunder guard Dion Waiters, who’s due $27.1 million over the next two seasons. Though the Heat has made Waiters available in trades in the past year, Waiters would have value in a backcourt with Westbrook because of Waiters’ improved three-point shooting.

    Because Westbrook is due $172 million over the next four seasons, the Heat would prefer to send the Thunder only players whose contracts would help expedite a deal - in most cases, players who aren’t considered to have a longterm future here.

    But OKC believes more compensation is warranted for a highly durable player who has averaged a triple-double three consecutive years and was the league’s MVP in 2016-17.

    As of mid-week, the Heat was unsure if there were any other teams seriously pursuing Westbrook, and Miami might dig in further on not giving up valuable assets if it has no competition for the eight-time All Star guard. If there is another team pursuing Westbrook, it hasn’t leaked publicly.

    But the stalemate on players must be resolved. The Heat could wait out the Thunder, daring OKC to begin the season with Westbrook, which seems unlikely, or find a more appealing offer elsewhere, which certainly cannot be ruled out.

    Or the Heat eventually could succumb to an extent on OKC’s demands.

    But Miami, at this point, has been reluctant to give up young assets for a 30-year-old due to earn $41.4 million in 2020-21, $44.2 million in 2021-22 and $47.1 million in 2022-23.

    One key for OKC might be finding a second team that makes an offer strong enough to either accept or use to potentially entice the Heat to offer more. It’s unclear if the Pistons, initially linked to Westbrook in media speculation, have legitimate interest. If the Pistons were interested, Detroit could hypothetically could offer something Miami cannot (a first-round draft pick in the next year or two) plus the expiring contracts of Reggie Jackson and Langston Galloway and another piece.

    Besides the Heat and OKC’s inability to agree on compensation, OKC also would like to take in less money than it’s sending out in the trade because the Thunder is $2.25 million above the luxury tax threshold and would prefer to get back under the threshold to avoid the onerous repeater tax.

    That’s something the Heat cannot accommodate because it is not permitted at any point in the next year to surpass the $138.9 million hard cap.

    That’s why a third team would be helpful in the deal, but that would end up being moot if OKC and Miami cannot reach an agreement on players to be included.

    The Heat likely would have been leary about including Herro in a trade even before summer league, but Miami’s belief in the rookie guard has only strengthened because of his strong work in summer league.

    In six summer league games, Herro is averaging 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 39.5 percent overall and 33.3 percent on three-pointers. He’s 24 for 25 on free throws and his play has exceeded the Heat’s expectations, according to a league source.
     
    #183 J.R., Jul 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
  4. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    *Know this: they will not panic*

    I believe this from the Heat. I think they will wait this out with OKC since the suitors are not there. Dragic+Leonard+Olynyk. It's coming.

     
  5. smoothie_king

    smoothie_king Member

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    no one wants that faggat carl winslow. justice winslow or eddie winslow!
     
  6. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Good article. Just shows you the stalemate in talent.

    Presti tries to play Miami off of Detroit for assets.

    Riley tries to play off the fact that OKC has minimal leverage and likely doesn't want to start the season with a lame duck Westbrook.

    Probably NOTHING gets done until Leonard is aggregateable until SEPTEMBER.

     
    rockets13champs likes this.
  7. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Could we get involved with a 1st, (& 2nd?) Shump, etc., getting WInslow out of the deal? Unrealistic? I don't know why OKC wouldn't just keep him, as you mentioned earlier. At least we might be able to speed things up.
     
  8. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    The only way OKC would not keep Winslow is if they wanted to reduce salary further and want a FRP. I don't see it really
     
  9. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    This is interesting. It's from months ago.

    The rookie extension for Justise Winslow now comes with the poison pill provision. Although Winslow can still be traded, the restriction makes it extremely difficult during the 2018-19 season. For trade purposes, the Winslow salary would count as $10.6M towards incoming salary for teams interested in acquiring the forward. This amount reflects the average in the last year of his rookie contract and new extension. The Heat would use $3.5M (last year of his rookie contract) as outgoing salary for trade purposes. The Heat are now slightly above the luxury tax threshold for 2019-20 with a projected $133M in guaranteed salary and 9 players under contract.

    Bobby Marks, ESPN

    www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41038001-4
     
    #189 Deckard, Jul 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
    Williamson likes this.
  10. lionaire

    lionaire Member

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    Feels like they'll get the deal done at some point or another. This is their best shot at acquiring a superstar player for the foreseeable future. The 2020 free agent class is weak and consists of no players that when paired with Jimmy could create a contender. And imo the East in it's current state is just about as weak as it's ever been considering there's no LeBron or Kawhi in the way.
     
  11. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Contributing Member

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    LOL @ Presti wanting some sort of great package for Westbrook.

    Reality will set in soon enough where:

    1. Russ gets more impatient with being on the OKC roster
    2. Herro continues to look like a stud in SL
    3. There are zero suitors that can offer young talent like Miami, even if it's just one out of the three among Herro, Winslow and Adebayo.

    In the end, Presti turned a core of:

    Durant
    Ibaka
    Westbrook
    Harden

    Into

    Durant -> Nothing
    Ibaka -> Oladipo, Ersan Illyasova, Sabonis -> Paul George -> Gallinari, Gilgeous-Alexander, 5 1st Rounders (3 from Clippers and 2 from Miami)
    Westbrook -> TBD
    Harden ->Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, Steven Adams and Mitch McGary
     
  12. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    here's my hot take: westbrook is the center. here me out. he only cares about rebounding and can't shoot. that makes him a center.

    realistically i think tilman is thinking of tv ratings and season ticket/jersey sales. morey is obsessed with trading for a superteam regardless of fit or chemistry. and MDA doesn't care who guards the SFs he wants to know what SFs can guard westbrook lol.
     
    topfive likes this.
  13. TheSource

    TheSource Member

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  14. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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  15. HP3

    HP3 Member

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    Man, on one hand, I dont think I really want to trade for Westbrook. On the other hand, I really dislike Miami for trying to short change everyone and get assets back for their garbage. Riley gets these type of deals because of the city of Miami not because he is good at his job(Im not saying hes not a good GM though).
     
    everyday eddie, jb86 and RudyTBag like this.
  16. Joshfast

    Joshfast "We're all gonna die" - Billy Sole
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    Presti using the ole' Rockets smokescreen on Miami:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Contributing Member

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    Isn't every other team a "preferred destination"?
     
  18. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Contributing Member

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    What if this is the one instance where Morey is trying to "get in the mix" for Westbrook only to have Riley send over all of their good assets (e.g. two of Herro, Adebayo, or Winslow) thereby screwing Pat over? I hope that's the case....i really hope that's the case....
     
  19. Rudyc281

    Rudyc281 Member

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  20. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Contributing Member

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    Not for players from the area like Tomball Ji--oh wait......
     

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