Chicago Bulls. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
A Russell Westbrook buyout is reportedly likely after he was traded to the Jazz on Wednesday. If it happens, where could he land?
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off the somewhat unthinkable less than 24 hours before Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline. Despite many thinking it might not even be possible, LA was able to trade Russell Westbrook on Wednesday night in a three-team deal with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the trade, Westbrook will now head to the Utah Jazz. But reports when the trade talks were heating up for the Lakers indicated that a Russell Westbrook buyout was likely if he landed in Utah. That means the former MVP who has been quite polarizing throughout his career and often a headache since coming to Los Angeles will be looking for a new home.
Given the common perception around Westbrook right now, it might not seem like he has a tremendous group of teams who would be interested in him. That, however, is not the case.
Looking at the market, though, a Russell Westbrook buyout will likely have at least these three teams bidding for his services once he becomes available.
Russell Westbrook buyout rumors: 3 teams that could use the former Laker
3. Chicago Bulls
It’s been quite a disappointing 2022-23 season thus far for the Bulls and a large part of that has been the lack of backcourt depth with Lonzo Ball out of the lineup due to injury, among a litany of other injuries throughout the roster as well.
Zach LaVine, undoubtedly, has been frustrating at times for Chicago, but he and DeMar DeRozan have been asked to shoulder a heavy load more often than not for the Bulls to have a modicum of success. For all his faults, though, Westbrook could potentially be a valuable piece that they would want, which makes it reasonable why Chris B. Haynes of NBA on TNT is reporting that Chicago will be an interested party.
The hope would be that Westbrook could take minutes from guys like Coby White or Goran Dragic off the bench and provide more offense for the second unit. In any case, the Bulls have a need at the backcourt and no one on the buyout market better than him is likely to emerge.