Chicago Bulls: Russell Westbrook is not the answer

Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Many fans want a shiny new toy for the Chicago Bulls this season. Russell Westbrook could be that toy as rumors are floating around about Oklahoma City considering moving the point guard via trade.

Listen. I get it. I completely understand why any Chicago Bulls fan would want to make the move for Russell Westbrook. First, it would show that the Bulls front office is willing to make a big-boy deal in order to be competitive. Second, and most importantly, trading for Westbrook would make the Bulls instant playoff contenders.

I ask you though, as one Bulls fan to another, are the playoffs the end goal? If all you want is the team to make the playoffs, then, by all means, be excited about this possibility. Shout from the rooftops for the Bulls front office and ownership to trade away assets for a superstar who will help the team become a low-seed playoff team.

However, if you are a Bulls fan who wants to see the Bulls become an actual championship contender year-in-and-year-out, then this move makes little to no sense. In order to achieve a trade for Westbrook, one of or both of Zach LaVine and Otto Porter Jr. will be involved in that deal. Westbrook and Lauri Markkanen should look good together, but not good enough.

That combination would likely make the Bulls a 4 through 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, but that just is not good enough for me. I want to see the team grow their players more organically and then add a piece or two via trade or free agency when the core is fully set. The team might be getting close, but it is not there yet. As I have stated, patience is key for the Bulls right now.

My reasons for not wanting Westbrook are simple. The cost is likely too high. Look at what Oklahoma City just received for Paul George. The Clippers had the team makeup to trade away their future. The Bulls do not have that right now. Trading away five first-round picks would decimate the team’s future. After receiving that deal for George, I do not expect the Thunder to take garbage from Chicago for Westbrook.

Many trade scenarios have been floated around on social media by non-credible sources. Most of them are just fans. Seeing trade scenarios like Zach LaVine, Coby White and a second round pick for Westbrook is actually not that bad. However, thinking the Thunder will take a deal like that is ignorant. I have seen LaVine and Otto Porter Jr. for Westbrook as another option. The team better hope Coby White is able to and willing to play the shooting guard position.

If the Bulls were able to find a way to trade for Westbrook, the team would be trading for a 30-year-old point guard who plays hard every play of every game. I am shocked Westbrook has not seen worse injuries to his knees. The fear of injury plus the deterioration of Westbrook’s joints from constantly going full-speed when attacking the basket is another of my reasons for not wanting Westbrook playing at the United Center.

Have we not seen this play out already with Derrick Rose at the helm? Westbrook is clearly a better player than Rose, but I hope you get my point. Westbrook has four years left on his contract. That contract that averages nearly $45 million per season over the next four years. Will he even play out that contract, or as he ages, will he see more injuries?

Not to mention, Oklahoma City was a sixth seed going into the playoffs last season. The team won 49 games with both Paul George and Westbrook on the team. The Bulls only won 22 games. I love Westbrook, but again, I do not see him making this team into a Championship contender this upcoming season or even in the near future.

Now, I will not sit here and tell you that you are wrong for wanting the Bulls to make a splash. I do too. I just think the splash needs to be more calculated than this one. If, and this is a big if, they can get Westbrook for little to nothing, then I am not going to be upset with the move. In fact, I would probably jump for joy if the deal comes cheap. I just do not see that happening.

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Big names seem to be traded every season lately. I see the current Bulls roster as a potential eight seed or better this year. Give them time to mesh and play together while healthy. Give White a chance to show what he can do this season. Then, if things do not seem to be working out, cut bait with those players who are not performing by making a trade before the trade deadline or during the 2020 offseason.