One-on-One: Miami, Orlando, Chicago? Where will OKC's Russell Westbrook land?

Keane: Going through these scenarios, I’m left with one big question: Is trading for Westbrook a good idea in 2019?

Heery: Well, his contract obviously doesn’t work for most of the NBA, but I do think he’s worth trading for if you’re already all-in with a mediocre team like Miami and Detroit. So, if I’m the GM of those teams, to borrow Russ’ motto, “Why not?” The interesting thing with Westbrook is that he’s been picked apart by so many NBA stat geeks and hipsters for his inefficient shot selection (29 percent from three on nearly six attempts per game last season), that he’s become underrated. This dude is still going to be an All-Star and fringe All-NBA player for another year or two -- maybe more if he started making threes close to the league average (approximately 35.5 percent). 

There’s a tendency to talk about every superstar nearing the end of their prime like they’re post-Achilles Kobe Bryant or the OKC version of Carmelo Anthony -- Russ isn’t close to being that detrimental to his team yet. Yes, his contract is pretty bad, but almost every team has bad contracts. Look at the freaking Raptors last season -- you think paying Kyle Lowry $33M, Marc Gasol $24M and Serge Ibaka $22M is a cost-effective use of cap space? Hell, no! But hey, those guys showed up in the playoffs and helped Toronto win a chip. Not sure which is better these days: winning the title or getting the most compliments for savvy front-office moves on Twitter. (Congrats to the Nets for winning that award in 2018-19 -- make sure you send your ring sizes to Adam Silver.)

For what it’s worth, I think Chicago is a stealth choice to swing a deal for Russ. They have some big contracts like Zach LaVine (three years, $58.5M remaining) and Otto Porter (two years, $55.7M remaining) and a young team that could use a passionate leader like Westbrook. Plus, Lauri Markkanen’s perimeter shooting and Wendell Carter Jr.’s rim protection could make up for some of Westbrook’s flaws. 

Heery: So, we’re expecting Westbrook to be dealt in the near future. Any other big names you think might be on the move this summer? Could we see the Wizards' Bradley Beal or Raptors' Kyle Lowry suiting up for a different team come this fall?

Keane: There’s no way Russell Westbrook’s deal is worse than many of the deals signed this summer, but that’s part of the Board Man’s genius: Delay his decision, force the Paul George trade when teams were out of cap space, and prevent a vengeful Westbrook from jumping to another contender, hell-bent on destroying the Clippers. The last time one of his teammates bailed on him, Westbrook’s sense of betrayal drove him to an MVP season.

I’m inclined to think the Raptors will hold on to their veterans on expiring deals (Lowry/Ibaka/Gasol/FredVanVleet), at least until the trade deadline. It seems wrong not to let the remaining players defend their title, and they still might be the third-best team in the East while KD is rehabbing his leg. Considering the war chest of draft picks that Sam Presti has acquired this week, the Thunder should be trying to trade for a player at the level of Beal, and then spend two years selling him on playing next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Of course if OKC strikes out, it could bottom out completely, meaning Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams would be available for clearance-sale prices. And while Chris Paul’s contract is harder to fit into a salary cap than Westbrook’s, never rule out cap wizard Daryl “Dork Elvis” Morey when it comes to making impossible trades.

The dark-horse veteran who might change teams is Golden State's Draymond Green, who is by far the best player who’ll actually hit unrestricted free agency next summer (Klutch Sports won’t let AD and LeBron break up). He’s eligible to sign a three-year extension this summer, but if the Warriors think he wants to move on, Bob Myers might not have the stomach to watch another future Hall of Famer walk away in July.

So, if you had to bet your life, or at least five future unprotected first-round picks, where do you predict that Russell Westbrook is playing on opening night?

Heery: My guess is Pat Riley moves heaven and earth to team Westbrook with Butler in Miami. What about you?

Keane: As much as I’d like to see a Wiggins-Westbrook bad contract exchange program with the Timberwolves, it would only guarantee that Karl-Anthony Towns forces his way out of Minnesota in two years. As we saw with Kawhi’s signing and should have learned back in the '80s, never count out Jerry West and Pat Riley. The Russ and Jimmy Show is coming to Miami.