JR SportBrief: Russell Westbrook won't help anybody win

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Russell Westbrook reportedly wants out of Houston. There’s just one problem: interest in him is likely somewhere between minimal and non-existent.

“I don’t know what team would work for Russell Westbrook, and that’s a shame,” JR SportBrief said on CBS Sports Radio. “I’ve even heard things about how maybe the Milwaukee Bucks need to take a look at Russell Westbrook just to let Giannis Antetokounmpo know, ‘Listen, man, we’re going for it. We got you another MVP. This is what’s going to help you guys get over the hump.’”

The Bucks have finished with the best record in the league two years in a row but were unable to reach the NBA Finals in either season. This past season, in fact, they weren’t even able to reach the conference finals. 

Antetokounmpo and Westbrook can both be dominant, no doubt. But both do most of their damage near the rim, and neither is a great shooter from the outside.

“Is it really a good idea to put a guy who’s a point guard who also can’t shoot on the same team with him?” JR asked. “Sounds like a bad combo for me.”

The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in trading for Westbrook, but that would likely be a combustible situation for all parties involved.

“I have no idea where Russell Westbrook is going to go,” JR said. “I have no idea if the Houston Rockets can execute a trade. But what I can tell you is I would not want Russell Westbrook on my team because I don’t think he’s going to help anybody win. He’s going to go to a team, he’s going to put up stats, he might help you go to the playoffs – but then he’s going to help you be eliminated. And he’s going to take away shots probably from another player on your team that either a) needs to be developed orb) can actually help you win a basketball game. 

“So it’s a sad situation for Russell Westbrook, someone who’s a future Hall of Famer, someone who gave you three consecutive seasons of triple-doubles,” JR continued. “But at this point of his career, [32] years old, three years and $130 million left on his contract – would you add Russell Westbrook to your team? Is there a fit for Russell Westbrook? I say no. I’m staying away from this guy. It doesn’t matter if I’m a contender; it doesn’t matter if I’m a young team. Russell Westbrook is good for putting up numbers, missing three-pointers, going to the playoffs and being eliminated. And by the way, he also wants to handle the basketball and run the offense more. We saw that in OKC. How did it work out? Triple-doubles and a whole lot of nothing.”

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