Westbrook opting out

[nikster]

Denver needs to move on from him.
If they do keep Russ, they need to stop letting him average double-digit attempts.

I don't know how anybody who paid attention to Denver would think they'd be better off without him. He was absolutely huge for them to push the pace and give them an extra ball handler, even with the baggage of dumb decisions he usually makes. They don't win as many games or push OKC to 7 without him

The Nuggets have no depth and no way of replacing his production.

[nomansland]

No big deal. The Nugs can pay him a bit more to stay, or he goes and gets overpaid elsewhere.

He was, for the most part, very good in Denver respective to his contract. If he leaves for a lot more money, good for him, and if he decides that he likes his situation in Denver and can get a bit more money in the process, completely fair and he's welcome back.

[Alatan]

I dont really care if he stays of leaves. He could have been an asset if the coach was able to control him but since he is just unleashed to do whatever he does the end result is a gamble. He had good moments and he had terrible moments. The Nuggets are paper thin but Westbrook doesnt really move the needle.
The Nuggets have enough of rollercoaster moments with Murray and MPJ. With Westbrook added to the mix the chances of all three aligning their and playing good are slim to none. So there will always be one of them to torpedo the game.
The more i think about it the more im in favor of him leaving.

Might force the management to make some real moves...

[LakersLegacy]

TV likely offers more than the NBA
He can talk about playing with

Jokic
Davis
LeBron/Durant
Kawhi/George
Harden

[HotRocks34]

He could still re-sign, but it's probably best for both sides to move on.

If your teammates will rat you out to ESPN in the middle of a playoff series, I'm not sure that's where I'd want to be.

Also, Russ was a Malone guy and Malone is gone.

[BigGargamel]

Makes no sense to resign for peanuts if winning is all he cares about. That only makes sense if he was on a contender, not a team that hasn't gotten out of the second round in years. Pretty sure he's going to a contender and waiting to see how the dust settles.

"Years".

It's been 2 years, and both times they were in a game 7. Denver is still on the short list of contenders.

But you're an irrational Denver/Jokic hater...so why start posting rationally now?

[Optms]

Makes no sense to resign for peanuts if winning is all he cares about. That only makes sense if he was on a contender, not a team that hasn't gotten out of the second round in years. Pretty sure he's going to a contender and waiting to see how the dust settles.

"Years".

It's been 2 years, and both times they were in a game 7. Denver is still on the short list of contenders.

But you're an irrational Denver/Jokic hater...so why start posting rationally now?

How are they contenders when they've been eliminated in the second round in back to back years? How are they better than OKC, Wolves, Knicks, Celtics, Pacers or the improving young teams that will take the next step in the coming years?

Disingenuous. Short list of contenders? Yeah no. Not in today's NBA. Its actually a long list and Denver isn't one of them. We aren't in 2023 anymore.

[One Last Shot]

Russ was good for us last season, big thank you for everything.
Now Nuggets go and sign Bruce B.
I hope Dario will opt in, he will be solid expiring contract to trade in that case.

You think Bruce Brown will sign Denver's taxpayer MLE worth $5.6 million when other teams can easily offer him standard MLE contract worth $14.1 million?

NBA teams that can offer him MLE contract worth $14.1 million

1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Brooklyn Nets
3. Charlotte Hornets
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Miami Heat
7. Milwaukee Bucks
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Washington Wizards
11. Dallas Mavericks
12. Golden State Warriors
13. Houston Rockets
14. LA Clippers
15. Los Angeles Lakers
16. Memphis Grizzlies
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
18. New Orleans Pelicans
19. Oklahoma City Thunder
20. Portland Trail Blazers
21. Sacramento Kings
22. San Antonio Spurs
23. Utah Jazz

Half of them are tanking/rebuilding and don't care to offer standard MLE contract in the first place. Some of them are looking for starting quality players, others will have to resing their own free agents.
Now, name me teams that will be willing to offer that big of a contract to a bench combo guard? Just to remind you Toronto could't get anything for him as $22M expiring contract. I don't think his market is as big.

I'm so glad you are right, Bruce back in Denver. I admit I lost some interest the moment Jokic and the Nuggets got eliminated last playoffs. I hope they'll be back in the Finals with Brown who won an NBA title in his only year playing with Joker.