The Knicks want to get Westbrooks cheap

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Leon Rose still has some interest in seeing if he can leverage Russell Westbrook from Houston, if he’s on sale, but that seems like a long chance.

Reports say the explosive point guard wants to get out. The Knicks feel they have a lot of leverage and aren’t looking to give up any future key pieces, according to sources. Their potential interest could come from using it as a scary tactic with OKC in any of Paul’s speeches.

Westbrook is coming out of a 2019-20 season in which he averaged 27.2 points, 7.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds for the Rockets.

The Knicks have room to inherit the three years and $ 130 million left the Westbrook contract. It would be more palatable from a cap point of view if a deal included Julius Randle and Dennis Smith Jr., as well as being sweetened by one of two future Dallas first-round players.