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Pass or Pursue: Top 10 NBA point guard 2022 free agent targets

By Jordanna Clark

Apr 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks shooting guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks shooting guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports) – New York Knicks /

3: Russell Westbrook (player option)

Here we go again. If the Los Angeles Lakers find someone to take on Westbrook and his $47.1 million player option that he’s expected to opt into, it’ll be a miracle.

The only reason that New York should even consider trading for Westbrook would be to buy his contract out and that’s a scenario that the Knicks should still be cautious about.

Yes, New York could sign a point guard in free agency, but it shouldn’t be Westbrook. He’s coming off an extremely tough season with the Lakers, one that was supposed to result in his first NBA title. That didn’t work out according to plan, huh?

Westbrook isn’t washed, but his fit with Los Angeles couldn’t have been any worse. He averaged 18.5 points, the lowest for him since his 2009-10 season in Oklahoma City. At first, it seemed as if he was just having a rough transition, but it lasted for the entirety of the year.

Reportedly, the Knicks aren’t interested in trading for Westbrook. That’d be an insult to young players like Quickley and McBride. Although Rose has had issues with staying healthy, he’d be a better starting point guard option for New York.

Hopefully, Westbrook is able to find his fit with another team so that he can get back to being himself on the court. But that isn’t going to happen with the Knicks.

Verdict: Hard pass