Chris Broussard Says "Detroit Is The Place" For Westbrook

Russell Westbrook to the Pistons? It's an idea that's gaining traction in NBA circles. 

The Thunder are searching for suitors for the eight-time All-Star, and Detroit is reportedly one of his most likely landing spots.

Based on conversations among player, agent and team, Oklahoma City for the first time is receptive toward trade calls on franchise star Russell Westbrook, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

Along with Blake Griffin, it would give the Pistons two bonafide stars and a chance to make some noise in the East. 

It would also give them two of the most cumbersome contracts in the NBA. Westbrook, 30, has about $170 million coming his way over the next four seasons. 

In addition to taking on that money, the Pistons would likely have to send the Thunder a first-round pick plus a good young player like Luke Kennard.

And they should do it, Chris Broussard says. If nothing else, it would make them relevant again. 

"If you trade for him -- and I think most teams in the league know -- when you trade for Russ, you are trading for relevance and to become significant and maybe a second-, maybe a third-round playoff team," Broussard said on FS1's Undisputed. "You're not trading to win a title. Because the way he plays, he's not going to lead a team to a championship. With that said, I think there's only a handful of teams that will be interested. … The one team that's reportedly interested that I think should do it is Detroit." 

Why? 

"You're in the East, so you never know," Broussard went on. "You have Blake Griffin and Russ, how would it work? At least one's a guard and one's a forward, so you try it. Detroit was out of the playoffs (six) straight years, irrelevant and they tried that, 'Let's break it down, let's build, let's get lottery picks' and all that. It failed. So then they go out and trade for Blake Griffin and tried, 'Let's be good now.' So go get Russ. You'll definitely be a playoff team, maybe a second-round team. And who knows? Russ works some magic, plays well, Griffin's great -- the East is not the West. Even though Milwaukee and Philly are good, it's not the West. So I think Detroit is the place."

The Pistons' apparent interest in Westbrook is consistent with owner Tom Gores' affinity for stars, not to mention his intentions to win now. If the Pistons want to maximize Griffin's window -- his contract runs through 2021-22 -- adding a player like Westbrook might do it. 

Of course, the former MVP hasn't been able to guide his team beyond the first round of the playoffs since taking the wheel in the 2016-17 season -- following the departure of Kevin Durant. 

The Rockets and the Heat are also said to be pursuing Westbrook, but Broussard doesn't think they're good fits. 

"I think the only place is Detroit, when I look at this," he said. 

Westbrook is coming off his third straight season averaging a triple-double, though his efficiency has declined the past two seasons.