(SportsRadio 610) -- The Charlotte Hornets are a possible landing spot for Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, The Athletic reported Thursday.
According to The Athletic, Westbrook told the Rockets he wants to be traded after just one season with the team.
The Hornets are the first team to emerge as a potential suitor for Westbrook since his trade demand became public Wednesday night, though The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported on his Tuesday podcast the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers could be interested in the 2017 NBA MVP.
Westbrook, 32, is owed close to $85 million over the next two seasons and has a $46.7 million player’s option for the 2022-2023 season, but after missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season, the Hornets have motivation to make a splashy move.
Since returning to the NBA in 2004, the franchise has failed to advance past the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in just three appearances. The organization has only produced two all stars in that span and lost its most marketable player, Kemba Walker, in free agency last summer.
Westbrook averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists with the Rockets last season, but struggled during the Rockets playoff run, missing the first four games of their first round series against Oklahoma City with a quad strain. He also tested positive for COVID-19 in July, which kept him from working out for three weeks.
Charlotte is close to $30 million under the salary with large contracts that expire after next season. They also own the third pick in next week’s draft.