Some of you will read the name "Russell Westbrook" and scream at the reading device of your choosing, some of you will throw your hands up in disgust, and others will laugh uncontrollably. I'm here to tell you that every single one of those reactions is justified, and I did some of all of that when I saw a Sports Illustrated article suggesting the Spurs add Brodie to the roster.
The Spurs would be crazy to add Westbrook to this team
The former MVP is nowhere close to the player he used to be, and there's a reason he's still on the market. As his career has waned and he's aged, the once mind-blowing athlete hasn't really changed his game up to reflect the undeniable effect that Father Time has had on his explosiveness. He's never been the most efficient scorer, and that's still the case.
Westbrook has also never been even a respectable three-point shooter, and that hasn't changed either. Not in the least. You'd think that once a player who relied so much on driving to the basket was no longer able to do so with the same consistency, he'd develop his outside shot more, but he hasn't done that. And his defense is still abysmal.
What's confusing about this suggestion is that it also comes off as tone deaf. San Antonio is already facing unrelenting questions about whether their team, and the guards specifically, will be able to shoot the ball well enough to space the floor for Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and their other interior threats. Adding Russ would only increase the volume of those doubts.
While I maintain an optimistic view that our guys will take a step forward in that area, it has yet to be proven. There is always a "what if" factor that must be considered, and if they aren't shooting the ball well enough to provide what every contender needs in outside threats and space, signing Westbrook would make them look like a completely unserious organization.
Besides, what does this iteration of the nearly 37-year-old guard provide that would be of value to the Spurs? They have fast break starters, finishers, rim runners, and guys that cut well off the ball. They even have someone who will bring the energy and do all the yelling the team needs—in a good way, though—in Keldon Johnson.
If it's veteran leadership, that's not even a solid argument anymore. That's what Fox, Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, and Kelly Olynyk are for. It's a solid, no thank you.