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What does Russell Westbrook’s extension mean for the Miami Heat?

By Wes Goldberg

May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Blake Griffin

With the Thunder and Spurs on the decent, it could have been the year of the Clippers if not for, well, you know. This could very well be the last year of the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan core which is already playing on borrowed time thanks to a last-minute change of heart by Jordan two summers ago.

Griffin has a player option next season and will almost surely enter free agency when the cap sky rockets again to $102 million. Griffin is just two years removed from finishing in the top three of the MVP voting, and a year removed from being in the top 10. When we talk about true title tilters, Griffin is a notch below that.

If Griffin decides to leave the Clippers, the Heat could be an intriguing destination, especially if Bosh is gone. But even if Bosh remains in the league, Bosh can play the 5 and Griffin the 4 in what could become a fearsome small-ball front court. Of course, that could mean trading Hassan Whiteside. If Bosh isn’t around, Griffin and Whiteside could re-conjure the magic of the Griffin-Jordan front court.

For all intents and purposes, the Heat with Griffin would be a reformation of the perennial 50-plus-win Clippers, except with some young talent (Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson) and an owner who isn’t the metaphorical embodiment of a megaphone.

Next: Gordon Hayward

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