The New York Knicks still have another roster spot they can fill, but one of their primary targets could turn out to be a bit of wishful thinking.
SNY’s David Vertsberger believes that Russell Westbrook — who the Knicks have been heavily linked to — appears to be a long shot for the Knicks to acquire.
“Westbrook looks like a long shot, given rumors don’t tie him to New York and there’s no clear path to consistent minutes in this rotation,” Vertsberger said.
“With that being said, he’s proven much more impactful than Brogdon or Simmons in recent years, and would be an absolute firecracker of an add if the Knicks pulled it off. What Westbrook’s lost in athleticism and scoring efficiency, he’s learned to make up for with his defensive tenacity and high-motor play. He does not take a play, let alone a game, off, and is always full tempo when he’s on the court.”
Westbrook may be past his MVP-winning days, but he is still an impactful player in the NBA. Last season with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. In each of the last three seasons, Westbrook has received votes for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
The Knicks have already added Jordan Clarkson, and Guerschon Yabusele for their second unit. Now in search of another piece, they may need to look elsewhere if Westbrook is out of the realm of possibility as they round out their roster.