As the Celtics wilted away in the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead to the 76ers, it was easy to look at the roster and see what was missing. They needed rim pressure. They needed scoring. They needed playmaking. They needed ball-handling. They needed speed and athleticism. They needed veteran leadership. They needed toughness. They needed intangibles.
That sounds like a lot of needs, and some are more dire than others, but they need a little boost in a lot of areas. Everyone is dreaming about a trade for a big star, but that probably overcomplicates things.Â
There aren’t many great options in free agency, but the Celtics have the ability to go out and find talent on the margins with their full midlevel exception and bi-annual exception. There’s one name out there that checks every box listed above, but it comes with a lot of volatility: Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook could give the Celtics a little bit of everything
At 37 years old, Russ is far from the MVP he once was, but a lot of his burst is still there. He put up 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists just last season for the tanking Kings, and he now hits free agency, likely seeking a role on a contending team. That’s exactly what Boston can offer.
They only have two real guards on the roster in Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. Westbrook could enter in a backup role and give the team another proven creator. He would help the team get out in transition, get to the free-throw line, and attack the basket. We know what kind of competitor he is, and perhaps he could provide some of the dog mentality that has been lacking since the departure of Marcus Smart.
At this point in his career, Russ needs to understand he’s not going to be a main guy, but if he buys into a role and channels his strengths while limiting his weaknesses, he could be an extremely useful change-of-pace player for a team like the Celtics.
Westbrook has never bought into his role
The only problem is that, as great as it sounds, it just hasn’t happened. It should have worked with the Lakers, the Clippers, and the Nuggets, and it simply hasn’t. He can clearly still play, but he’s a constant roller coaster ride, turning the ball over, taking terrible shots, falling asleep on defense, and ultimately causing more harm than good.
The biggest problem with the fit for me is the coaching situation, as I’m just not sure I trust Joe Mazzulla to rein him in and be able to stick him on the bench when necessary. Due to his veteran status and high-motor, drive, and big personality, Westbrook feels like exactly the kind of player that Joe would go down with, even when it’s clearly the wrong move.
If ever there was a perfect situation for Westbrook to succeed and a contending team that needed his skillset, it’s the Celtics. Considering we’re talking about a minimum contract, it’s hard to hate taking this chance, but it’s impossible not to imagine the potential downside if things go off the tracks and Russ wants to play the hero.
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