The New York Knicks are on the short list of viable trade destinations for disgruntled Rockets star Russell Westbrook, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. It was reported Wednesday that Westbrook, a nine-time NBA All-Star and former MVP, had asked Houston for a trade.
“If the Knicks prove willing to absorb the $130+ million left on Westbrook’s contract [over three seasons] to make him their centerpiece, there is a trade to be made,” Stein tweeted. “They have weighed it.”
What makes the Knicks intriguing as a potential trade partner for the Rockets is their unique ability to create enough cap room to absorb Westbrook’s entire contract without having to match salary in the deal.
The Knicks are on the short list of viable trade destinations for Houston's Russell Westbrook, league sources say
If the Knicks prove willing to absorb the $130+ million left on Westbrook's contract to make him their centerpiece, there is a trade to be made
They have weighed it
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 13, 2020
New York’s cap space could give Houston multiple paths. In a two-team scenario, if no contracts (or a very small amount) were exchanged and the Rockets stayed below the cap, they could create nearly $20 million in immediate cap room to use in this offseason’s free agency.
Meanwhile, if they took some salary back (enough to operate above the cap) but less than Westbrook’s roughly $40-million salary figure, Houston would generate a traded player exception (TPE) to cover the gap. That TPE, which allows them to take in a player at that amount or less without having to match salary, would last until the 2021 offseason.
Houston could also presumably get cheap assets from the Knicks, in the form of young prospects and/or future draft compensation. (Here’s a look at players and salaries that New York currently has under contract.)
As I understand it right now, there are active discussions between Houston & the Knicks. As many have pointed out, makes little sense for the Rockets to dump Russ for nothing & NY is haggling. What does NY have that HOU wants? Not sure. Seems like NY wants to hang on to Knox.
— Jonathan Macri (@JCMacriNBA) November 13, 2020
Another option could be bringing in a third team looking to offload a larger contract, such as Cleveland with Kevin Love. While the rebuilding Cavaliers may not have interest in a 32-year-old Westbrook, they might be intrigued by the chance to offload a massive contract without having to take back any large salary that potentially clogs their salary books.
In theory, the same logic might apply to San Antonio with DeMar DeRozan and/or LaMarcus Aldridge, Detroit with Blake Griffin, or any rebuilding team potentially interested in moving a veteran’s large contract but without taking much money back. In those scenarios, both the third team and the Rockets could potentially generate a TPE of significance.
The Charlotte Hornets are also believed to be a trade suitor for Westbrook. However, they don’t currently have the ability to fully absorb his contract. That dynamic could make the Knicks more intriguing, if they make the final decision to move forward in their pursuit.
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