Lakers: Breaking down a potential Russell Westbrook to Miami trade

Why the Miami Heat could say yes to this trade:

Russell Westbrook obviously does not have the same appeal that he did five years ago and after falling one game short of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat may not want to add that to the team. That is completely justified.

That being said, it is not like the players they are trading away in this deal were a primary reason for the team’s deep run in the playoffs. Lowry had his moments but also had his really bad games during the playoff stretch and Robinson essentially became unplayable for the team.

Miami prides itself on the “Heat culture” in being able to get tough, gritty players that buy-in on the greater good and all strive towards success. If there is one team, and one teammate, that could crack the Westbrook code then it is the Heat and Jimmy Butler.

Miami could absolutely talk itself into trading for Westbrook with the hope that his athleticism and explosiveness can provide a better outlook for the team than Lowry did. That still is not the main reason why Miami would ever say yes, though.

It would be to get off the contracts of Lowry and Robinson. The Heat signed Robinson to a hefty five-year deal and Lowry to a three-year deal. Lowry is not going to get better with age and the team might already be out on Robinson. With a big extension due to Jimmy Butler in the near future, it is probably best for the long-term implications of the team to get those two contracts off the books and get flexibility next offseason.

Miami is always a free-agent destination and they can bank on Butler luring in a different star next summer to open yet another title window.