Report: Heat express interest in Westbrook
Russell Westbrook's time with the Oklahoma City Thunder could be ending.
The All-Star guard is welcoming the idea of a trade, and the Miami Heat - a destination that appeals to Westbrook - have expressed interest, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Westbrook and his camp have been working with Thunder general manager Sam Presti while hoping to find a resolution soon.
The Thunder reportedly traded his running mate Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a massive haul of draft picks, and the team appears to be heading toward a rebuild. Although Westbrook's love for the city and organization hasn't changed, he'd rather be playing in a competitive situation while nearing the end of his prime, sources told Wojnarowski.
Westbrook has been one of the Association's most electrifying players since entering the league in 2008. But his intense and sometimes reckless style of play has led to concerns about the veteran's long-term durability. The 30-year-old has already undergone multiple right-knee surgeries.
Finding a trade partner could be difficult with Westbrook owed $38.5 million this season and up to $132 million beyond that, according to Spotrac.
The two-time NBA scoring champion averaged a triple-double for the third straight season, posting 22.9 points, 11.1 boards, and 10.7 assists per contest across 73 appearances this past campaign.
Westbrook was named MVP after the 2016-17 season, and he became the first player to average a triple-double over an entire season since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.
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