Who will sign Westbrook?

[Domejandro]

Wolves, Pelicans, Hawks, & Bucks could all use a backup pg.

For what it is worth, I don't think that there is a role available for Westbrook in Minnesota that he would find satisfactory, barring an injury to Mike Conley or Donte DiVincenzo occuring during the season.

I think the current tension for Russell Westbrook finding a home is that the guaranteed availability of playing time is limited.

[SkyBill40]

I wouldn't have minded the Suns picking him up on the cheap before we traded Durant. Now we're stuck with Green and Booker, which is going to get us abused on the nightly. Even with Westbrook's advanced age and suspect shot, he's still better at running the point than either of those two.

[tsherkin]

I think the current tension for Russell Westbrook finding a home is that the guaranteed availability of playing time is limited.

Well, that and his library of well-demonstrated weaknesses which limit his overall utility, particularly since he became incompetent at the line and generally incapable of hitting shots away from the rim.

[Rdude22]

Given his regression, the type of point guard he is doesn't really help teams out like that*, plus he has a sorta combustible crash out personality that doesn't seem to lend itself to just being the mature vet on the bench.

*i.e. Elite motor but he's turnover prone (shaky dribbling, poor passing), can't shoot, and can't score efficiently. So for example, what exactly would he do for Houston that, say, Amen couldn't?

-Bring the ball up the court, pass to KD or Sengun and ruin their spacing?
-Bring the ball up the court, call some hopefully imaginative Ime play, but still ruin the spacing or be liable to turn the ball over?
-Play offball and cut or stay in the dunker spot to hopefully not ruin the spacing? (so not have pg or facilitation duties)
-Bring the ball up the court in semi transition and attack the rim? (so, again, not have pg or facilitation duties)

[TheGeneral99]

Smart move would be to go to OKC and try to win a ring as a low minute bench guy to finish his career.

[PostGameDaVinci]

Wolves, Pelicans, Hawks, & Bucks could all use a backup pg.

For what it is worth, I don't think that there is a role available for Westbrook in Minnesota that he would find satisfactory, barring an injury to Mike Conley or Donte DiVincenzo occuring during the season.

I think the current tension for Russell Westbrook finding a home is that the guaranteed availability of playing time is limited.

I feel that. He's come off the bench the past 3 years, but he's gonna have to learn to accept sporadic minutes in this phase of his career. A lot of teams could use someone to push the offense but they don't wanna put up with his Westbrick games.

[Amare_1_Knicks]

Houston’s a good fit from the standpoint that they just lost their starting PG. With FVV out they need production at that spot, even if he doesn’t check the same boxes that Fred did. Gotta figure KD would veto that though.

Brooklyn? They look so miserably devoid of quality talent, and a competent point guard. They surely get at least a little better with him on the team compared to their current roster.

If there’s any truth to the rumors, it sounds like the Kings are the most likely destination for him though.

[Domejandro]

I think the current tension for Russell Westbrook finding a home is that the guaranteed availability of playing time is limited.

Well, that and his library of well-demonstrated weaknesses which limit his overall utility, particularly since he became incompetent at the line and generally incapable of hitting shots away from the rim.

For what it is worth, I think that he has the capacity to be an extaordinary tool for teams as a ninth or tenth man who can come in and add energy back into a game, but he is still WAY too ball dominant during his minutes. Even with his flaws and no changes on the court, he could still thrive in that role, but I think he's hunting for twenty minutes a night, which isn't conducive for winning.

[Richard4444]

I wonder why WB opted out of his contract with Denver.

I do not know how it works, but it was explained that new contract, even minimum one would pay more than his second year minimum extension with Denver, but I think RW didn't anticipate that no one will offer him any deal. That said, awful NBA FA players get these late contracts from NBA, I have seen Killian Hayes just got another deal, so RW will get signed by someone sooner or later tho, he will just have to work less for more money eventually.

The difference would be 200k, i guess. 3 6 M against 3.4M. Pretty low value for who earned 346 Millions already.

[tsherkin]

For what it is worth, I think that he has the capacity to be an extaordinary tool for teams as a ninth or tenth man who can come in and add energy back into a game, but he is still WAY too ball dominant during his minutes. Even with his flaws and no changes on the court, he could still thrive in that role, but I think he's hunting for twenty minutes a night, which isn't conducive for winning.

If they can tolerate his decision-making and general lack of utility outside of the RA, then sure. If you play him 10, 15 mpg, then that becomes a thing. And if he is hitting corner 3s like he was for a while, even better.

But 20+ mpg, he isn't worth that at this stage, for sure. Westbrook still remembers that he was an MVP, but hasn't processed what's changed since then even still, I think. He does not play a particularly cerebral brand of basketball, so while he remains a remarkable athlete (even independent of his age), it's hard to tolerate him on the court for long because he's kind of a dumb-ass with limited utility.

[pr0wler]

I think the current tension for Russell Westbrook finding a home is that the guaranteed availability of playing time is limited.

Well, that and his library of well-demonstrated weaknesses which limit his overall utility, particularly since he became incompetent at the line and generally incapable of hitting shots away from the rim.

For what it is worth, I think that he has the capacity to be an extaordinary tool for teams as a ninth or tenth man who can come in and add energy back into a game, but he is still WAY too ball dominant during his minutes. Even with his flaws and no changes on the court, he could still thrive in that role, but I think he's hunting for twenty minutes a night, which isn't conducive for winning.

Yeah if he just focused on defense, rebounding, and passing... he'd be a valuable rotation piece for a lot of teams.

18 MPG 7 PPG 5 RPG 5 AST with tough defense would be a nice value add.

But as it stands, Russ has to get his "quota" of shots which ultimately ruins his efficiency and reduces the value he brings to any team.

[UglyBugBall]

Could see the Bucks

Bucks have an obvious need, but I think he prefers a big city, or to go back to one of his earlier teams for legacy reasons. This will likely be his last team.

He’s not good enough to be that picky.

He's an MVP and still averages big numbers

[nomansland]

I wonder why WB opted out of his contract with Denver.

I do not know how it works, but it was explained that new contract, even minimum one would pay more than his second year minimum extension with Denver, but I think RW didn't anticipate that no one will offer him any deal. That said, awful NBA FA players get these late contracts from NBA, I have seen Killian Hayes just got another deal, so RW will get signed by someone sooner or later tho, he will just have to work less for more money eventually.

The difference would be 200k, i guess. 3 6 M against 3.4M. Pretty low value for who earned 346 Millions already.

He probably thought his play would get him more than the minimum, or worst case the Nuggets would bring him back. He had some very loud typical Russ moments last year but he was also pretty good for the most part. He was better than I expected, for sure.

[thomas1897]

Could Minnesota Sign Westbrook?
• Yes, it's possible: Reports suggest Minnesota is among the teams considering Westbrook, also the Pelicans.
• Fit with the Timberwolves: With a core that includes Anthony Edwards ("Ant Man"), Julius Randle, and Jaden Mcdaniels, Westbrook could serve as a third scoring option or lead the second unit.
• Role clarity: Analysts believe Westbrook could thrive in a backup role or as a situational starter, especially if he focuses on playmaking and defense while minimizing turnovers.
What’s Holding Things Up?
Minnesota hasn’t officially signed him; they remain a realistic landing spot—especially if they want veteran leadership and scoring depth behind Edwards and Randle.
How Westbrook Fits with Minnesota’s Roster
Strengths He Brings
• Playmaking: Westbrook averaged 6.1 assists last season, which could ease pressure off Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
• Rim Pressure: He’s still explosive in transition and can collapse defenses—something Minnesota lacks in its half-court sets.
• Veteran Leadership: With Mike Conley aging and Rob Dillingham still developing, Westbrook offers experience and toughness.
Last year when Minnesota played OKC Randle was having difficulty scoring and Ante Man worked extremely had scoring. This is where Westbrook could help adding a strong third option scorer. Potential Concerns
• Shooting Efficiency: Westbrook’s shooting dipped to 31% in the playoffs, which could hurt spacing.
• Decision-Making: He’s known for occasional turnovers and questionable shot selection.
• Fit with Randle and Edwards: All three are ball-dominant, so chemistry and role clarity would be crucial. Strategic Outlook
If Minnesota wants a high-impact veteran who can energize the team and fill gaps in scoring and playmaking, Westbrook is a bold but risky choice. Can Westbrook Define His Role and Play to Win?
Signs He Can
• Adaptability in L.A.: With the Clippers, Westbrook showed flashes of role acceptance—coming off the bench, focusing on defense, and energizing the second unit.
• Veteran maturity: At 36, he’s no longer chasing triple-doubles or MVPs. His recent interviews suggest a shift toward team-first mentality and legacy building.
• Playoff hunger: He’s still one of the most competitive players in the league. If paired with a clear role and strong leadership, he could thrive.
What Minnesota Needs from Him
• Defined role: Backup point guard, second-unit leader, occasional closer—not the primary scorer.
• Controlled aggression: Attack when needed, but defer when the stars are cooking.
• Locker room leadership: Help mentor Rob Dillingham and support Ant Man’s rise.

[Yoshun]

If I were him I'd go to a team that isn't going to be very good this year (like my Nets). He could actually get playing time. No contender should sign him.

[levon]

Who can resist this

https://youtube.com/shorts/DSIelbE9VdY?si=cNMIGCpDRjMoKLDU

[UcanUwill]

If I were him I'd go to a team that isn't going to be very good this year (like my Nets). He could actually get playing time. No contender should sign him.

I think he is beggar not a chooser at this point.

[cupcakesnake]

For what it is worth, I think that he has the capacity to be an extaordinary tool for teams as a ninth or tenth man who can come in and add energy back into a game, but he is still WAY too ball dominant during his minutes. Even with his flaws and no changes on the court, he could still thrive in that role, but I think he's hunting for twenty minutes a night, which isn't conducive for winning.

If they can tolerate his decision-making and general lack of utility outside of the RA, then sure. If you play him 10, 15 mpg, then that becomes a thing. And if he is hitting corner 3s like he was for a while, even better.

But 20+ mpg, he isn't worth that at this stage, for sure. Westbrook still remembers that he was an MVP, but hasn't processed what's changed since then even still, I think. He does not play a particularly cerebral brand of basketball, so while he remains a remarkable athlete (even independent of his age), it's hard to tolerate him on the court for long because he's kind of a dumb-ass with limited utility.

What Denver learned at the last, and worst possible moment (after riding the wild ups and downs of the Russ Rollercoaster all season) was that you should never ever ever have him on the floor for crunch time. His decision-making is utter insanity. He's like a glass cannon, or a video game weapon that shoots random ammo, sometimes obliterating your opponents spectacularly, and sometimes exploding in your face.

Russ can still add value with his crazy athletic tools and plus playmaking, but the negative value has long been unwieldy. For a while, teams felt they could put him in a context where they could capture the positive value and mitigate the negative, but after the past 2 years of playoff blunders, I don't see who can talk themselves into it. He looked amazing at times working with Jokic, but just look at the sheer volume of turnovers, missed 3s, missed 2s, and personal fouls over his last few playoff series. No one can talk themselves into surviving Westbrook's warts.

[KGtabake]

Stay without a team until the deadline.
See which contender needs a guard then.

[tsherkin]

What Denver learned at the last, and worst possible moment (after riding the wild ups and downs of the Russ Rollercoaster all season) was that you should never ever ever have him on the floor for crunch time. His decision-making is utter insanity. He's like a glass cannon, or a video game weapon that shoots random ammo, sometimes obliterating your opponents spectacularly, and sometimes exploding in your face.

Yup, all of that.

Russ can still add value with his crazy athletic tools and plus playmaking, but the negative value has long been unwieldy. For a while, teams felt they could put him in a context where they could capture the positive value and mitigate the negative, but after the past 2 years of playoff blunders, I don't see who can talk themselves into it. He looked amazing at times working with Jokic, but just look at the sheer volume of turnovers, missed 3s, missed 2s, and personal fouls over his last few playoff series. No one can talk themselves into surviving Westbrook's warts.

He's not a smart player, he's a bull-rush athlete. And while that can work out at times, his various weaknesses eventually add up, no doubt.