Stephen A Smith Wants Russell Westbrook On The New York Knicks: “I’d Give Up Everybody On The Knicks”

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The rumors about Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers parting ways will not quiet down this off-season. After Westbrook’s dismal debut season in LA, it seems everyone wants to see both player and team to make a change and enter a more favorable situation. 

New Lakers coach Darvin Ham has already addressed the situation with Westbrook and confirmed that they intend to bring him back for the season. In addition, Ham set expectations of Westbrook, especially with his commitment to defense. Ham would obviously back Russ in a press conference, so do the Lakers still want to move their point guard?

Whether they are or they are not, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith wants the New York Knicks to try and move heaven and earth to acquire Russell Westbrook. Smith went so far as to say that he would trade anyone on the Knicks to acquire Russ.

Trades to get Westbrook to the Knicks have flown around since the Lakers have been eliminated. The Knicks are a young team where having a presence like Westbrook could be extremely beneficial. We saw how Russ took the Washington Wizards to the Playoffs in his sole season there, he could do something similar provided he gets the room to operate.

With the development of RJ Barrett being the priority, it seems Westbrook may harm that as they are both non-shooters. A player like Immanuel Quickley may be the better fit, but Westbrook is box office. 

The Knicks have to be careful in terms of what assets they give up for a $47 million contract for a player that will become a free agent next season. Considering the Knicks love keeping cap flexibility open for free agents, moving contracts like Julius Randle that are longer-term to the Lakers to have massive space in the 2023 off-season may be one way to justify a move like this. 

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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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