Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Detroit Pistons: Acquiring Russell Westbrook is a Real Possibility

By Bob Heyrman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles up court during a 107-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles up court during a 107-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Detroit Pistons
(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

Acquiring Russell Westbrook would drastically change the direction of the franchise.  The offseason additions of Morris, Rose & Snell are all two-year deals.  It appears GM Ed Stefanski was preparing the organization for plenty of salary relief in two seasons allowing the franchise space to spend via free agency.  The team could potentially pair their young players with some veteran free agents in hopes of making a playoff run.

If the move were made, it would be a Tom Gores move; he’s mentioned he has no issue with the team going into the luxury tax, he actually said he’d like to go into the luxury tax.  He pulled the trigger on the Blake Griffin deal, he isn’t afraid to make a bold move, and adding Russell Westbrook would be bold. It’s refreshing to have another owner in the city not afraid to spend money; just saying.

More from Detroit Jock City

The Detroit Pistons simply can’t land players like Blake Griffin & Russell Westbrook via free agency.  Players like this appear to be choosing teams in New York or California.  So IF the Detroit Pistons decided to go all in; I can get behind that.  Russ will sell tickets, I mean the organization has struggled to draw a crowd so much so that they’ve added seat covers to the seats, so it doesn’t appear so empty on the television broadcast.

Westbrook would make the Detroit Pistons relevant again, I’m not sure they can win a title with him, but they would have a much better opportunity to succeed while Kevin Durant is out.  Durant will miss the entire season leaving the Eastern Conference wide open.

The move would also allow Drummond to be the third option rather than the teams’ second option.  A large upgrade.  Westbrook is a ball dominant guard; Griffin is a ball dominate forward, at least they are both not guards.  It would be a fascinating look; it would absolutely create a buzz throughout the city.  And listen, a significant knock on Russell is the number of shots he takes along with the amount of ‘bad’ shots he takes, just think, Drummond can clean up some of those inflating his boards’ numbers even more.

Westbrook is on the wrong side of 30, but he’d be easily the best point guard the franchise has seen since Chauncey Billups.  Last year his numbers looked like this 73 GP | 36 MIN | 22.9 PPG | 10.7 A (career best) | 11.1 Boards | 29%- 3P% | 66% FT% (not good) | 47% EFG%.

dark. Next. Pistons Just Had Their Best Offseason, Since?

Verdict–If the deal doesn’t include more than two first round picks and doesn’t include Sekou Doumbouya, go for it.  I honestly don’t see the team ever anding a better player in free agency.  I understand the final year of Westbrook’s contract is set to pay him 47-million; it’s atrocious.  But isn’t it worth it if he gives the Detroit Pistons a chance?  Right now they have no chance at a title, wouldn’t you want a chance?  Once Durant returns from injury I can’t see Griffin navigating the franchise to a conference final dragging Drummond along with him.  He needs another star, and here’s an opportunity to grab one, do something bold, go all in, at the very least bold will equal exciting.

Home/Detroit Pistons