Stephen A. Smith Has 1 NBA Team In Mind For Russell Westbrook

The Houston Rockets were the only team to show interest in Russell Westbrook at the trade deadline in February. The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t respond to the offer because Rob Pelinka wasn’t going to trade a first-round pick. That’s exactly what most NBA teams wanted in each and every trade scenario revolving around Westbrook. The veteran and a first-round pick.

Reports have linked Westbrook to numerous teams and Stephen A. Smith wants him to join the New York Knicks. Smith believes that the Knicks should do their best to get Westbrook. Will New York consider giving up on its trade assets to get a struggling veteran? I mean, Westbrook is coming off of the worst season in his career. He may be a talented player, but he was a bad fit for the Lakers.

Smith would definitely go with Westbrook and the Knicks.

“I’d give up everybody on the Knicks for Russell Westbrook,” he said on Thursday.  

Stephen A. Smith:

“I’d give up everybody on the Knicks for Russell Westbrook.”

(via @ESPN)

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 9, 2022

Westbrook may not be a good fit for the Knicks either. Here’s another catch. Pelinka didn’t say a word about Westbrook’s trade. The All-Star will probably stay in Los Angeles. Trading him is not an option right now.

The Lakers may not let another team get Russell Westbrook

Newly-hired Lakers coach Darvin Ham met with Westbrook and had a good chat with him. Westbrook was one of the very few Lakers players to attend Ham’s introductory press conference.

“And Russell – don’t get it messed up,” Ham said, via Silver Screen and Roll. “Russ is one of the best players our league has ever seen and still has a ton left in that tank. I don’t know why people tend to try to write him off. I’m going to approach him like I do every player I’ve ever encountered. We’re going to talk about our running habits with the ball, without the ball. And, again, the team, the rhythm of the team and trying to establish a rhythm with LeBron, Russ and AD and, again, shared the load defensively and offensively.”

We have a feeling that Westbrook and Ham will get along really well together. Frank Vogel had issues with the veteran and Ham may be a game-changer next season.