Nuggets Insider 'Can't See Another Team' Pursuing Russell Westbrook Contract

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook may encounter a tight market in the event he opts out of his current deal and becomes a free agent.

"I can't see another team doing it, but I never thought we would do it," one Nuggets source told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne about the idea of signing Westbrook.

Last offseason was already a harsh reality check for the nine-time All-Star. The Los Angeles Clippers shipped him out to the Utah Jazz, who promptly waived him. Then he signed a two-year, $6.8 million deal with Denver, which was the veteran's minimum.

Westbrook has done little this season to reverse the general perception of his value.

The 36-year-old averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game but remained a poor shooter, hitting 32.3 percent of his threes. The Athletic's Sam Amick and Tony Jones reported in April he was a somewhat polarizing figure inside the locker room, too, with some teammates growing frustrated with how head coach Michael Malone was refusing to rein in his on-court approach.

The playoffs have been more of the same. Westbrook generally performed well in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, and he played an important role in the Nuggets' 121-119 Game 1 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But you balance that with Denver's 92-87 loss in Game 4, which saw Russ shoot 2-of-12 from the field and finish with as many points as fouls (six).

According to NBA.com, the Nuggets have had a minus-11.9 net rating with Westbrook on the court in the postseason. That's not ideal when he's logging 25.4 minutes per game.

Even when he was at his peak, a lot of people wondered whether the 2016-17 MVP was worth the headaches he caused thanks to his singular approach on the floor. Now that his skills and athleticism have diminished, it's even harder to accept the general bargain.