I wonder if the Cavs stumble a bit if they'd be interested in Westbrook. He'd sell tickets and while he would dominate the ball, it would be for a 1.5 seasons at most. It would be an interesting dynamic.
Cleveland - Westbrook
Lakers - Love, Rubio
The Lakers could then shift Rubio for someone else, like maybe Eric Gordon or someone like that, giving the team acquiring Rubio future salary relief while the Lakers get a usable player this year.
The Cavs would need to fall back a bit to risk taking on Westbrook, but I think that would be an interesting move for them and Garland/Westbrook as a backcourt would be unguardable (at least until Russ takes a terrible shot, ha).
I think Cleveland is better off without Sexton and Westbrook is even more Sexton than Sexton is. A guy like that will change the whole dynamic of the team and probably negatively affect Garland's development. Rubio was taking a lot of shots this year but he's never been a "me" guy. I think Westbrook makes that team worse.
Perhaps, but the premise is they make the trade only after they take a swoon. It would be an interesting trade since it basically just costs them Love and Westbrook is both a better player and a better draw than Love.
I don't think trading Rubio for someone like Eric Gordon makes sense for the Cavs like it does for the Lakers either, but I suppose something like that would be an option, but then they still have Love on the books next year and whatever salary comes back in a Rubio trade. At least by acquiring Westbrook they have a HOFer, a real draw, and he'd only have 1.5 years left if it doesn't really work out. If it does though, it could get them some extra playoff games and playoff revenue this year. The Cavs play Memphis, then have a 6 game road trip out West, then have the Nets at home, before going to Chicago. I'm not saying it is likely, but it is certainly very possible, that 2 weeks from now they are below .500 and clinging to a spot in the play-in. That is when I think they might consider something like that.
