Analyst completely out on Boston Celtics pursuing trade for former MVP

MassLive's Brian Robb wouldn't so much as entertain the idea of the Boston Celtics adding Russell Westbrook in the December 1 edition of his Celtics Mailbag -- doubting the former MVP's ability to contribute to a winning team in an answer to a reader's question about trading for No. 0.

"I respect the idea but I’m out on the Russell Westbrook business," Robb deadpanned. "To begin, I don’t foresee a scenario where the Clippers trade him in the first place. He signed with them for the veteran’s minimum last season and he re-signed at that price over the summer. Given that he’s been a good soldier out there amid changes, it’s hard to see them moving him somewhere without his approval. If they want to move in a different direction, they would probably just cut him outright.

"Beyond that, I just don’t think he’s a winning player at this point in his career, especially for a contender. Even in a bench role, his aggression backfires more often than it helps. He is shooting just 43 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range this year and is just 30.5 percent from 3-point range in his career. Despite that, he still takes nearly four attempts per game, a sign of his maddening shot selection. He was able to get away with that earlier in his career thanks to what he brought to the team across the board but his athletic decline has exposed his faults even more."

Boston Celtics cannot snub nose to veterans who have declined since their primes

Being completely out on Westbrook is for the meek. And no, these kinds of meek won't be inheriting the earth.

Boston has a bench near the bottom of the league's scoring rankings, and is reliant on hot shooting nights from the likes of Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser to make up for the lack of easy bucket-getting from anyone outside of Al Horford.

The Celtics have, for years, largely ignored adding any over-the-hill veterans who can still contibute in limited minutes, though they did give Blake Griffin a chance during the 2022-23 season. That signing yielded positive results on the floor in spot-starts, and especially off of it due to Griffin having been there and done that, and having much to share with the younger guys in the locker room.

Denying Westbrook even consideration shouldn't be the Boston Celtics front office's attitude come the trade deadline in the event the Los Angeles Clippers are selling off their win-now pieces.