Russell Westbrook is looking forward to playing for his third team in his NBA career with the Washington Wizards.
It could have landed on any franchise, but critics believe the market was low to nil. One team that made sense was the New York Knicks.
The Knicks are rebuilding and need all the help they can get. They needed to fill the leadership role, someone who could take over in New York starting this season.
Westbrook suited very well. However, New York wanted the resources involved to go hand in hand with the 2017 NBA MVP.
According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, there was no interest in acquiring Westbrook’s services in the off-season. In an episode of the Lowe Podcast, he pointed out how teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets weren’t genuinely thrilled to attract natives from Long Beach, California.
Lowe was wondering where the rumors were coming from, but according to his knowledge, there were none.
For the Knicks, there was a different purpose. New York was willing to accept bad contracts, but also wanted additional resources in the form of younger players or future choices.