Knicks Receive: Russell Westbrook
Rockets Receive: Julius Randle, Kevin Knox II, Frank Ntlikina, Bobby Portis, 2020 1st Round Pick (No. 8), 2022 1st Round Pick (via DAL)
It has been too long since the Knicks have made the playoffs and it’s clear they need an All-Star caliber talent to get it done. New York has failed over and over in the NBA Draft and it’s time to make a push for an exciting talent that is already established and Westbrook fits the bill.
If the Knicks navigate the offseason with creativity, perhaps they could manage to attract another intriguing talent to pair with Westbrook in New York. The appeal of the nation’s biggest market in an iconic venue while playing with a former MVP could be enough.
The Rockets wouldn’t be receiving a star player in return for Westbrook in this scenario, but they would receive more depth around James Harden. Houston would also have a pathway to shed salary cap spending while adding some draft picks. Meanwhile, Julius Randle can provide some size in the middle as a stop gap option.
With the combination of players the Rockets would receive, they’d be able to decline the $15.7 million team option for Bobby Portis to clear additional salary cap spending room.
Smith Jr. is entering the final year of his contract making it pivotal he brings his best to the Rockets. If he can find his stride with Houston, then the value of the trade certainly changes. As for Knox, he also hasn’t yet found success but perhaps has a cleaner pathway to turning it around by playing with Harden.
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