What if Russell Westbrook signed with the Celtics?

Think about this.

Russell Westbrook’s scenario with the Los Angeles Lakers continues to nosedive, main Rob Pelinka and the entrance workplace to take drastic motion — by shopping for out the ultimate yr of his contract. Instantly, Westbrook is a free agent, itching to show his price on a brand new roster.

His telephone rings, and on the opposite finish is Brad Stevens, who desires to arrange a gathering to debate probably becoming a member of the Boston Celtics on a one-year deal. Through the assembly, Stevens does his greatest to persuade Westbrook that the easiest way to restore his ailing profession is to return off the bench, pointing to the longevity an identical transfer had offered to fellow Laker-turned-free-agent Carmelo Anthony.

The deal on the desk is a one-year veteran’s minimal – in any case, the Lakers simply parted with an entire heap of money to ship Westbrook packing, so his checking account isn’t hurting proper now. In return, Westbrook would come off the bench to do what he does greatest – create mayhem and stress the rim like he’s making an attempt to show the basketball into an enormous diamond.

No one is anticipating the California native to shoot threes, or to offer spacing. As an alternative, Stevens and Udoka need to function Westbrook’s rim-running antics as a part of their system. Malcolm Brogdon would play on the two, the identical place during which he rose to prominence with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Derrick White is left to combat for minutes throughout a number of positions.

Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet have the inexperienced mild from deep, whereas Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been promised to be staggered alongside Westbrook, guaranteeing there’s sufficient capturing gravity to provide the pinball-type guard the room he must function.

Westbrook is offered. The considered profitable a championship with the Lakers’ most hated rivals has him salivating, particularly after Los Angeles basically paid for this to occur. There’s an excessive amount of poetry to disregard, and with that, the contract is signed.

The primary few months are tough.

Horrendously so.

However then, Udoka offers a masterstroke.

White is again within the rotation as the first level guard off the bench. Al Horford is now the second unit’s energy ahead, and Luke Kornet is relegated to fourth large within the rotation. Which means Westbrook is now a full-time small-ball 5 heart.

Give it some thought.

Westbrook is at his greatest when grabbing boards and turning the jets on, beating the protection down the court docket earlier than both ramming it residence or discovering a shooter or slasher. Horford’s presence alongside him within the entrance court docket signifies that a switching system can nonetheless happen, with scrams coming left and proper on mismatches. And abruptly, Boston begins their second mind-boggling resurgence in as many seasons.

Westbrook is reborn.

Regardless to say, Boston’s protection isn’t as impenetrable because it was final season, however their offense has left coaches scratching their heads — missed photographs are turning into fast buckets, and drives to the rim are creating wide-open seems to be for Tatum and Brown.

Skip Bayless has to retire, he can’t take all of the reward coming Westbrook’s manner.

Russell Westbrick is now Russell Westworld — as a result of he’s a gun-slinging cowboy placing up numbers you solely see throughout a simulation of NBA 2K.

Lakers followers are in a daze, some are switching allegiances, and most significantly, Boston seems to be like they’re lastly prepared to boost Banner 18. Rumors are already surfacing about Westbrook getting an enormous payday elsewhere as soon as the season ends.

Kevin Durant remains to be at a stalemate with the Brooklyn Nets and has change into a legendary contributor to NBA Twitter. There are rumors concerning the famous person ahead turning into the newest addition to the Uncle Drew franchise, going by the moniker ‘Massive Man Bob.’

The post-season arrives.

Tatum is a person possessed, Brown is proving why Stevens stood by him over the summer season, refusing to commerce him away. Grant Williams units one other report for three-pointers made in a Recreation 7, and Westbrook is doing his greatest “Monstar’s impression” – nicely, the model of the Monstar’s earlier than the Tune Squad drinks the key stuff.

The NBA Finals arrive, and the Celtics have a revenge collection with the Golden State Warriors. Small ball in opposition to small ball. It goes the space, a Recreation 7 again in Boston. The TD Backyard is rocking. A Westbrook triple-double, 47% capturing evening from Brown, and a 50-point evening from Jayson Tatum lead Boston to victory.

A banner is raised. Followers rejoice. And Westbrook goes down as the most effective veteran minimal signings in NBA historical past.

Now snap out of it!

Boston would possibly very nicely win a championship subsequent season, and Tatum is at all times a threat to drop a fifty-burger on anyone’s head. However Westbrook shouldn’t be going to be the galvanizing issue behind a championship run — nicely not for Boston, and most definitely not as a middle.

Nonetheless, there’s nothing incorrect with letting your creativeness run free, after which sitting again and asking what if?

As a result of, what else is there to do within the low season if not dream up ludicrously extravagant notions of how issues may play out? Basketball is meant to be enjoyable, proper?

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