Although the Phoenix Suns signed Ricky Rubio to a three-year deal this offseason, the team should put together a package for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook.
The main goal for General Manager James Jones and the Phoenix Suns front office should be to keep current star Devin Booker with the franchise for the entirety of his career.
At the moment, after four consecutive seasons of abject failure, it sure doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.
An easy solution would be acquiring Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook.
Not only would Westbrook deliver a star partner for Booker in the backcourt, but it would also give fans a valid reason to go to games.
Currently, the Suns do have a dynamic young pair in Booker and center Deandre Ayton, but adding Westbrook to the mix would provide for IMAX-level theatrics.
This offseason the Lakers added Anthony Davis with LeBron James, the Clippers added Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and while Golden State lost Kevin Durant, they re-signed Klay Thompson while adding D’Angelo Russell to Stephen Curry.
Oh yeah, and the Kings sure aren’t the joke they used to be.
But what about the Suns?
The team used to offseason to overhaul the roster, but made the decision to pass on going in onthe tier-one point guard market.
Instead, they settled on a three-year, $51 million deal with point guard Ricky Rubio, as reported by the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Rubio brings some stability to a position that has plagued Phoenix since the departure of former Sun Eric Bledsoe. Last season, he averaged 12.7 points and 6.1 assists per game in 68 games for the Utah Jazz.
But he does have his faults.
One of those is his ability to shoot the ball. Rubio is a career 32.2 percent 3-point shooter and has only averaged a little over 11 points a game in eight seasons in the league.
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Bringing in Russell Westbrook could be solution to upgrading the position for Phoenix.
It certainly appears that Westbrook could be traded this season after trading star player Paul George to the Clippers. This is the star attraction the Suns should take advantage of, should the Thunder become desperate enough to unload Westbrook.
Last season Westbrook averaged a triple-double for his third consecutive season and was selected to his fifth straight All-Star game.
But while he brings immediate contributions to any NBA team, there comes his baggage, the first of which is the massive five-year extension, $206 million Westbrook signed with the Thunder and does not expire until 2023.
That means for the 2019-20 season, Westbrook will make $38.5 million, a number that only grows over the subsequent four years.
The contract would immediately destroy the Suns’ cap space and flexibility as the team has to swallow the Booker contract in the same time span.
The previous offseason moves as well more than likely would mean that a Westbrook trade would have to come during the regular season and most likely include shipping off Rubio as a result.
Realistically the package would need to include the expiring contract of Tyler Johnson, along with Kelly Oubre Jr. (when he re-signs) and/or Mikal Bridges, as well as an assortment of future draft picks.
To make it work, these players also need to start the season extremely well for Phoenix and show the Thunder they are worth Westbrook’s weight in gold.
But then again is the price worth paying for Phoenix?
If the Suns want to win games then the answer is yes.
Not only would Westbrook bring in another scoring option for the Suns, but he would create a dynamic pairing with Devin Booker. The two could average over 50 points a game combined and he would immediately take a boat load of pressure off of Booker.
Westbrook has proven time and time again he can take any pressure applied.
As he heads into his 12th season the guard has lifetime average of 23 ppg, 8.4 apg and 7.0 rpg.
These are the kinds of numbers that would make any Suns fan’s mouth water.
An added bonus is the competitive fire Westbrook would bring to Phoenix
For years the Suns and their fans have dealt with mediocrity and settling for losing (for years they had us rooting for losing). Westbrook would bring in a win-first mentality and a motor unlike any other in the league.
That could really expedite the growth of the young players on the Suns roster and give Booker a player of his level to work with.
While it wouldn’t be a simple task for the Suns to make a run at Westbrook, it would show teams and fans around the league the Phoenix Suns want to compete.
While Westbrook may be moved before the season begins, the Suns could be a dark-house option for the guard should the Thunder hold on to him.