With the madness of the NBA trade deadline dominating headlines over the past 24 hours, led by the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, the buyout market may be equally as intriguing.
There will be no shortage of chatter through podcasts and live-streaming platforms as the NBA market shakes out, and with the Super Bowl on the horizon.
One particular trade saw the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Utah Jazz pull off a three-team trade that.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers will land D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Wolves receive Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker + picks, while the Jazz land Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and a 2027 Lakers first-round pick that is top-four protected.
However, Westbrook's tenure in Utah may be short lived, as it is very likely that the Jazz will explore a buyout with the veteran guard, which would send Westbrook to the free agent market.
Enter the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns already won the trade deadline with their acquisition of Durant, who joins Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton to form one of the most potent starting fives in the NBA.
But the Suns, who likely aren't done making moves, will need to shore up their bench, and the addition of Westbrook would be perfect for that.
Westbrook, 34, has been mostly relegated to a reserve role with the Lakers, and has slowly found his groove in that spot, becoming a force off the bench for the Lakers.
Westbrook could be a lethal sixth-man player, who can provide rest for Paul and instantly become a thorn in the side of his former team.
Westbrook has poured in 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game this season, and that kind of production would instantly improve a Suns secondary unit that has lost some of it's offensive firepower.
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