NBA Insider Reveals Why Miami Heat Would Consider Taking A Gamble On Russell Westbrook: “Miami Believes They Can Rehabilitate Anyone”

Russell Westbrook is going to stay in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey for now, but are the Miami Heat looking at the former MVP to make a splash?

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The Los Angeles Lakers look ready to head into the 2022-23 season with Russell Westbrook on the team, as deals to unload him have involved too many future assets for the Lakers. If they could have dealt him for cheaper, they would have. So far, this hasn’t been the case.

An outside team that could come in to make LA an offer for Westbrook might be the Miami Heat, as indicated by Ric Bucher of Fox Sports. 

Even then, team executives and scouts could only come up with one potential landing spot: the Miami Heat. Team president Pat Riley has a history of cultivating fiery competitive players, from Alonzo Mourning to Brian Grant to Jimmy Butler. He hoped that point guard Kyle Lowry would be the finishing piece to another championship-caliber team last season, but after posting the best record in the East, the team lost to Boston in the conference finals. Lowry, plagued by several nagging injuries, played in only 10 of their 18 postseason contests and was a shell of himself, averaging 7.8 points on 29.1 percent shooting. Depending on how this season goes for the Heat in general and Lowry in particular, Westbrook might be a worthwhile gamble.

“It makes sense,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “Miami believes they can rehabilitate anyone.” (h/t Fox Sports)


Would Russell Westbrook Be A Good Fit In Miami? 

The Miami Heat are in a very narrow contending window right now, so taking a chance on Westbrook does mean they are relatively sure of what the point guard brings to the table at his current age. 

For a trade to work, the Heat will have to give up Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry, but that may be a worthwhile swap for both teams. Robinson was played off the court at the tail end of last season and is eating up a lot of salary for someone struggling to get playtime. Lowry’s fit in Miami was awkward and might not be a fruitful one this season.

A lineup featuring Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo will need outside shooting. The fit remains clunky, but Westbrook’s ceiling on what he can deliver is higher than Lowry’s, even though Lowry is the more skilled shooter. His percentages were extremely poor, so at this point, this may just be the best way for Miami to make an improvement after a dull offseason.   

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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