The Hornets have emerged as a potential suitor for disgruntled Rockets star Russell Westbrook, sources tell Shams Charania of Stadium (video link). Westbrook is reportedly hoping for a trade out of Houston.
Charlotte would be an intriguing trade partner for the Rockets. President of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak has said repeatedly that the Hornets are unlikely to make a big splash in free agency with their cap room, which makes sense, since Charlotte isn’t traditionally a major free agent destination. However, the team could take advantage of that cap space if it pursues an impact player with an oversized cap hit like Westbrook’s ($41.4MM in 2020/21).
The Hornets will also have veteran forward Nicolas Batum on a pricey expiring contract ($27.1MM) that could be used as an outgoing trade chip.
Of course, the Hornets’ top two scorers last season were Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham, both of whom ostensibly play point guard. If the Rockets and Hornets pursue a Westbrook trade, it’s not clear whether Rozier or Graham would be part of a deal or if Charlotte would look to move one of those players in a separate move.
The Hornets also hold the No. 3 pick in next Wednesday’s draft, though I’d be pretty surprised if the club put that pick on the table for Westbrook, given his age (he turns 32 today) and the three years and $132MM left on his contract. Charlotte’s No. 32 overall pick is more likely to be in play in a swap involving the former MVP.
Charania points out that Westbrook’s Jordan Brand sponsorship deal is another factor working in favor of a deal with the Hornets. Still, it doesn’t sound like there’s any traction between the two sides yet, and I’d expect other potential suitors to step up in the coming days and perhaps weeks.
No. No. No. Ugh!! No. What are they thinking?! Unless Houston is sending over picks in exchange for the Hornets eating the contract this makes less than zero sense.
Considering the picks they gave up for Westbrook no chance they give him up with picks
Bro it’s the hornets man we always find a way to screw things up
Eh. Everytime Charlotte has cap space, they just blow it. What’s the difference between
a) overpaying a player like Lance Stephenson or Nick Batum and
b) bringing in another team’s pricey contract?
At least with Westbrook, you get someone who is historically healthy and who might be able to win some games. I’m not saying I love the trade, but it will sell some tickets and maybe just maybe help Charlotte get into the playoffs. Why not?
I don’t want to see them desperately grasp for the playoffs, though. The playoffs aren’t fun when you’re that team that constantly gets swept or only wins one 1st round game. I’d rather they stay the rebuild course.
But are the playoffs fun when you are not a part of them at all?
No, but there’s no difference in the level of fun if you can’t beat anyone. Stuck in the middle is the worst place in the league to be. At least being bad you get to watch young players grow and look forward to the draft. Russ jacking up 15 bad shots a game doesn’t excite me.
To me, I would rather be stuck in the middle because at least there is a chance at some meaningful games at the end of the year. When you are a fan of a bottom 5 team and are basically eliminated before the trade deadline, it’s really hard to care. For the Hornets, I would think that after the Marvin Williams /MKG/Adam Morrison type picks at the top of the draft, there might be a better way.
The Hornets 2.0 franchise have never had a star like Westbrook. Even if he is not at his peak value, he is still far better than any player this version of the Hornets/Bobcats have ever had. No offense to Kemba Walker, but when he is the best player in franchise history, by far, you are doing something very wrong.
What is the chance that Westbrook will be gone. If he wants this and is still with Houston in December will it not be a distraction. I would love him to be moved for the right return
If he’s going to be a distraction, I think you’d have to weigh it vs. any return. Even for a great talent like Russ, if he’s a distraction, you may just have to move on and take the best return available and not necessarily the right return.
“The right return” means his entire contract moved and nothing more. They won’t get much if anything back other than Batum-types.
Yeah, if I’m CHA, I’m not giving up ANY picks.
Here’s the deal:
CHA gets Westbrook ($41M) and PJ Tucker ($8M)
ORL gets Rozier ($19M)
HOU gets Gordon ($18M) and Batum ($27M)
I think this is a good starting point, but CHA might have to give up a bit more like a pick for the return they’re getting.
ORL would probably ask for that pick as terry might not be enough
Gordon for Terry is a pretty solid deal. Might be 2nd round pick light, but not much more….
I like this outline too, and echo that it’s light from Orlando’s standpoint. Orlando should get a future first rounder from both Hornets and Rockets in that deal.
I might agree to trying to get a 2nd to ORL, but I’d be hard pressed for one 1st not to mention two!
(not a fan of any of these three teams, not saying I’m not over/under-valuing somebody, but there is no homerism for anybody here)
Way too complicated. It’s easy: Batum plus a couple of rookie contracts for Westbrook. Houston gets cap relief and roster filler, Charlotte gets to sell fans on the idea that they’re going to compete this year.
Except Gordon is exactly the type of player that HOU is looking for…. I’m sure they’d much rather have a player like Gordon than roster filler.
I think with that Orlando will stick get the 8th seed not Charlotte with improved shooting from Rozier and Steve Clifford (Brilliant coach)
Charlotte could have a better chance hanging on to what they have and adding a few cheaper free agents and a decent rookie. They will be a better team next season continuing to play unselfish basketball instead of getting Westbrook who is a ball hogger.
IMO
Fair trade
Hornets get Westbrook and House
Rockets get Zeller Rozier Monk Bridge
Rockets save $4 million
Please tell me you got Jokes today
You’re joking right,
Who says no？
Westbrook is overpaid but has value
See, I told yall: “no one significant” – Batum is exactly the kind of player I meant.
You are delusional if you think Russell has a modicum of trade value – the only way Houston is getting a good package back is if they include future draft picks. But stop being delusional, Houston fans.
Rozier + Zeller = Westbrook. Maybe, but Rockets get about 65-70 mm in cap space over 3 years – which is a bunch. I think it’s very safe to say the #3 pick isn’t changing hands in a deal for Westbrook.
Makes sense. He’s signed to jordan brand plus Charlotte desperately needs to fill more butts in the seats.
Signed with*
It would be Batum and Zeller. Nothing else needed.
The Lakers can get in on this and get Danny Green’s deal out of there. Maybe take back Danuel House.
Like I said two options.
1. Russ for Terry Rozier, Cody Zeller and a first
Or
2. Russ, Eric Gordon and a first for PG13, Pat Bev and sign and trade Montrez Harrell
Rozier Zeller and Monk for Westbrook
Rockets are likely to say no
Good. Let them say no. They have no real leverage. I don’t want Russ, anyway. Just saying Houston is going to have to take what they get, and that’s an overpay.
Here’s my nonsense trade suggestion:
Westbrook and PJ Tucker to Minnesota for the number 1 pick and include a a sign and trade player or two (if rules allow) to match salaries. So, maybe we see Evan Turner for 1 year at 40 million to make this trade work. I like it for Houston because the number 1 pick in the draft is a real asset. And I like it for Minnesota because Westbrook and PJ Tucker are tough guys…with them in the fold, Minny might actually be able to make some noise in the playoffs. Towns ability to shoot the 3 opens up the court for Westbrook. Houston could include additional players to make this more enticing…Covington, Eric Gordon…maybe Minny throws in a few more draft picks.
Westbrook, going to Charlotte makes absolutely zero sense. For anyone.
We’ll take that number 3 pick. Pony up.
No chance.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
I’m sorry, I can’t… Ha ha ha ha ha.
Keep him.
Here’s an idea
Hornets receive: westbrook, and 2 future firsts
Rockets receive: Batum, Terry rozier, pick 32
The problem with that idea is that Houston doesn’t have future firsts that they are allowed to trade because they sent most of them away to get Westbrook. The only future firsts they have are 22 and 23 and they can’t trade either because they don’t have a 1st in 21 or 24. The best they could do would be offering a pick swap in 22 and/or 23, but that would be dumb because if the Rockets sell off those picks will undoubtedly be lottery picks, probably high ones. If they do that, they might as well just shut the doors for the next decade or so because they will be the Nets after the Garnett/Pierce trade.
The trade does not have match on salary because Charlotte has cap space to use. The trade can be very simple.
Hornets get
Russell Westbrook
Danuel House
Rockets get
Terry Rozier
Malik Monk
pick #32
It doesn’t even have to include Monk and House. The Hornets get a star and the Rockets get some flexibility and youth. It’s a win-win.
Why is Charlotte giving up assets? Russ’ contract is atrocious.
And Rozier’s isnt?
Rozier is paid pretty much on part with everyone else in his same PER lane that isnt an old vet.
Yeah, and Westbrook is pair on PAR with every other former MVP in the league. So what’s your point?
It’s not like I was suggesting they give up the #3 pick or Washington or even Graham. But you don’t get stars like Westbrook without giving up something. A high 2nd round pick, a free agent bust, and an underperforming lottery pick from 3 years ago is not exactly a lot of assets.
If the Hornets did this deal to my chagrin, Rozier and the pick or Monk is fair, but not the pick *and* Monk. That’s too much to me.
No offense, but if something like adding Malik Monk or a 2nd round pick to the deal stops Charlotte from getting a former MVP, that explains why they have been a lottery team almost every year of their existence.
And I say that as a huge Malik Monk fan.
The bidding war has already begun.
Houston will get a lot more than anyone here thinks Russ is worth.
We’ll see.
Because there’s no possible way “sources” could actually be his agent. Right?
Sorry but Westbrook value most certainly does include the #3 pick…never would happen any other way.
A future HOF traded at 32 and he has no value…plz.
Value where? He’s a shoot-first ball dominant guy. If you put him on a contender you can’t just seamlessly slide him in. You’d have to revamp an entire offense and team.
He’s just good enough to pull a bad team up enough to be out of the lottery, but he’ll never be THE guy to win you a title. We saw that show in OKC, it didn’t work when he was younger and better.
Where is the value? To think he’s worth the #3 is crazy to me. Keep him! Please!
#3 pick is a pipe dream for Houston, they are the ones who will have to be enticing to move RW with no 1st rounders to offer, as good as he can be that $130mil over 3 years in going to be a big hinderance for alot of teams so whoever is offering most salary relief will probably endup with him.
If Charlotte could get him and keep Batum so he can come off the books next year I say go for it, RW 3rd pick and our young guys would be fun to watch