The Cons of the Detroit Pistons Trading For Russell Westbrook

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to trade Russell Westbrook. The Detroit Pistons are one of the teams reportedly interested. What are the cons trading for Westbrook?

The NBA world has been buzzing ever since the arrival of Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles, as well as Paul George who was traded from Oklahoma City in the early hours of Saturday.

News has surfaced that the Oklahoma City Thunder and franchise point guard Russell Westbrook are looking to part ways, and the Detroit Pistons have come up as a possible suitor.

This has created a vast dichotomy within the fan base, with folks being strictly dedicated to one side of the cause, which begs the question; To trade for Russell, or not?

The answer doesn’t feel as clear-cut as it maybe should. There truly are reasons to pull the trigger on any deal, but conversely there are arguably just as many reasons to put a bullet in the whole idea.

Reason one – salary cap purgatory: Trading for Blake Griffin put Detroit in a financially compromising position that the team is still feeling the effects of. However, at the end of the day it was a necessary move in taking the next step as a franchise. Adding Russell’s albatross of a contract at 5 years $206 million, the Detroit Pistons would be entirely out of the running for any (no matter the caliber) free agents in the coming years. As it stands, Detroit will have a considerable amount of money coming off the books in 2020 and 2021.

It has been said several times that Tom Gores would be willing to pay a luxury tax for any player that moves the needle for Detroit and propels them into a top four spot.

Russell admittedly would do that for Detroit. But with a player option worth $47 million when he turns 34, at some point the literal “cost” of an acquisition has to cause you to pump the breaks.

Reason two – offensively stagnant: At the end of the day the offensive foundation that Coach Casey laid out this past season does not fit what Russell brings to the table. The Pistons ranked sixth in the league in total three-point shots attempted, but only 22nd in total three-point percentage.

Detroit’s offense was contingent on their wings’ ability to run the perimeter and hit their shots, a team that has already been labeled “full of shooters who can’t shoot”, you aren’t exactly improving on that front.

Furthermore, you worry that the lane would be clogged alongside Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin.

Reason three – The aforementioned cost: The “cost” of a potential Russell Westbrook trade goes deeper than just contractual issues. Given the presumed direction of the Oklahoma City Thunder, all signs are pointing to a rebuild.

We saw Jerami Grant dealt to Denver as well as Paul George to Los Angeles. Thunder GM Sam Presti has begun to do a remarkable job stockpiling draft picks, as they now own two first round picks every year (minus 2025) until 2026.

Trading Russell means you’re looking for assets. That presumably means draft picks and young talent. While Detroit could conceivably part with Khyri Thomas, Bruce Brown, or Thon Maker, it is more within the realm of possibility that Detroit would be asked to move Luke Kennard or even the recently drafted Sekou Doumbouya.

The latter two seem to be where Detroit would see issue. As they passed on Mike Conley at the trade deadline over a reported unwillingness to part with Luke. Sekou has arguably the most promise and upside within the last few decades of any Detroit Pistons draftee.

It’s hard to imagine a world where Detroit loses both of those players, but it is entirely conceivable.

The summary: There is undoubtedly a lot to be excited for if the Pistons do decide to trade for Russell, as they likely become a lock in the East as a top four seed and make a run for the Eastern Conference Finals. There are cons to an agreement with Oklahoma City, but most would concede there are in fact some pros to it as well.

However, at the end of the day it’s important to entertain the idea of Russell Westbrook in a Detroit uniform but no, not every superstar makes sense to be here. Mortgaging your future for a player that has seldom seen postseason success seems like an arbitrary move, but stranger things have happened and it may be worth pulling the trigger.

Detroit, the ball is in your court.