Russell Westbrook prefers to Heat things up – 3 trade options that work for both sides

Trade option three:

The final trade doesn’t include the expiring contract of Dragic. Rather, it looks at adding both players the Heat would like to get off their books given they are two year deals with both players having player options in the second year.

In return, the Thunder would be pinpointing Bam Adebayo as a must add along with youngster Herro. The key reason Miami wanted to jettison Hassan Whiteside as they viewed Adebayo is their center of the future.

Moving Johnson and Olynyk wouldn’t be as easy given they aren’t on expiring deals. That said, procuring Adebayo would open the door to trade Steven Adams and get a huge contract off the books.  Although I’m not convinced OKC are equally desirous of losing the Big Kiwi once Westbrook is gone. Adams would become the defacto leader of the Thunder and like Nick Collison before him is a player who demonstrates leadership on and off the court and embodies the culture and identity of the Thunder.

OKC could continue to shop for trades to move Dennis Schroder and Andre Roberson later in the season and would still have until year end to continue to cut costs.