NBA Rumors: Knicks' Favored To Sign Russell Westbrook

The New York Knicks are the betting favorites to land Russell Westbrook if he leaves the Los Angeles Clippers this summer, per BettingOnline.ag. Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Westbrook played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers this season. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 73 games while shooting 43.6% from the field, 31.1% from beyond the arc and 65.6% from the free-throw line.

The UCLA product played well for the Clippers in the playoffs versus the Phoenix Suns, putting up 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. However, the Suns beat the Clippers in the first round in five quick games.

The Knicks already have a starting point guard in Jalen Brunson, so it’s interesting that they are the betting favorites to sign Westbrook. Brunson had a terrific first season in New York after spending the first four years of his career with the Dallas Mavericks.

The lefty averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists in the regular season and 27.8 points and 5.6 assists in the postseason. The Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round but lost to the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals.

Westbrook turns 35 in November and he’s a career 30.5% shooter from 3-point land. His inability to consistently hit outside shots is why he wasn’t a good fit next to LeBron James on the Lakers.

With that said, Westbrook likely wouldn’t be a good fit next to Brunson, who has a high usage rate on the Knicks. Westbrook is at his best when he has the ball in his hands, not when he’s playing off the ball, and New York would be foolish to move Brunson off the ball.

The Knicks lost to the Heat in six games. They need more talent around Brunson, who scored 41 of New York’s 92 points in Game 6. However, adding Westbrook at this stage of his career wouldn’t make sense.

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