4 potential landing spots for Russell Westbrook

With Russell Westbrook reportedly hoping to move on from the Houston Rockets after just one season, the biggest question in basketball is which team would be amiable toward taking on the former league MVP and his gargantuan salary?

Westbrook, who turns 32 on Thursday, is owed $41.4 million for the 2020-21 season, $44.2 million for 2021-22, and he has a $47.1-million player option for 2022-23.

Any team acquiring the nine-time All-Star at this stage of his career is either very desperate to improve their short-term outlook or opportunistic enough to take advantage of the Rockets' apparent dysfunction. Here are four possibilities that fit the bill:

New York Knicks

Relevancy has largely escaped the New York Knicks during James Dolan's tenure as majority owner. The Knicks have made just six postseason appearances since falling in the 1999 NBA Finals. Their 2013 conference semis run is starting to feel like a long, long time ago.

At the very least, adding Westbrook to the mix guarantees a solid if unspectacular floor. Unless New York is fully committed to tanking its way to a top pick in the 2021 draft, there are worse things than watching Westbrook put up a triple-double every other night en route to the sixth seed in a weaker Eastern Conference.

In terms of balancing the books, Julius Randle and either Taj Gibson or Bobby Portis - if the Knicks trigger their team options - get the job done. Whatever else the Rockets have to include to get New York to take on Westbrook's remaining salary is another question altogether. - Potter

Los Angeles Clippers

No move should be off the table with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George able to opt out of their contracts at season's end. Leonard has reportedly asked the front office to address the point guard position, and the Los Angeles Clippers have already been linked to veteran floor general Rajon Rondo.

Adding another ball-handler to facilitate the offense would relieve some pressure off the two-time Finals MVP. However, a hypothetical deal for Westbrook would almost certainly require a third team due to his $41.4-million salary for 2020-21.

Los Angeles could offer young assets Landry Shamet or Ivica Zubac. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell may also be included in a potential sign-and-trade to help match salaries. - Nacion

Charlotte Hornets

Despite being owned by Michael Jordan, the Charlotte Hornets have avoided leaving any discernible impression on the league. At all. They've made the playoffs three times since the Bobcats returned as an expansion team in 2004. Their eight seasons with Kemba Walker were completely wasted.

So, how's this for an alternate future for the woe-begotten Hornets: general manager Mitch Kupchak swaps Nicolas Batum's expiring $27.1-million contract for Westbrook in what amounts to a salary dump for Houston; then, Charlotte uses the No. 3 pick in the Nov. 18 draft to add another impact player to the fold, like Memphis big man James Wiseman.

It's certainly not an NBA Finals-bound unit, but a new-look Hornets core of Westbrook, Terry Rozier, Devonte' Graham, P.J. Washington, and Wiseman is at least interesting. And what more can we ask of Charlotte after 16 utterly boring years? - Potter

Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores has historically carried a playoffs-or-bust mentality into each season, even if a rebuild serves the team best. The Pistons have made bold moves under his watch - including the acquisition of Blake Griffin - and they won't think twice about pursuing a deal if it improves their postseason chances.

Additionally, the club's move into Detroit's downtown core at Little Caesars Arena hasn't fixed its attendance woes. Making a play for Westbrook would immediately bring some excitement to the Pistons' once lively fan base and put them in contention for the East's No. 8 seed.

While the former MVP isn't Detroit's long-term solution at the point, he arguably fills the team's biggest need and provides a stopgap to his successor. Westbrook is reportedly seeking a "floor-general role" and the Pistons would give him full reins to the offense, just like he had with the Oklahoma City Thunder. - Nacion