Knicks Are Wrong Russell Westbrook Landing Spot Amid NBA Free Agency Rumors
The New York Knicks may, or may not, be exploring the possibility of adding veteran point guard Russell Westbrook this off-season.
Jake Fischer reported for The Stein Line that the team emerged as a potential target for the future Hall of Famer. Then, Shams Charania reported that the team is expected to sign free agent Jordan Clarkson after he clears waivers.
On the heels of that report, New York Post insider Stefan Bondy did not expect Westbrook to sign with the team.
Ian Begley of SNY, on the other hand, reported that he does not expect the Knicks to be "fully out" on signing Westbrook.
While it appears as though there are several moving pieces at this time and Westbrook could still end up playing in New York, it is not the right landing spot for the nine-time All-Star.
The two-time league scoring champ and MVP has seen his playing time steadily decrease in recent years and in 2024-25, averaged the second-fewest minutes of his career with 27.9. He also averaged his second-fewest points with 13.3 while shooting 44.9 percent from the paint and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc.
His 4.9 rebounds tied a decade-long low, and his 6.1 assists were the second-fewest of that same time frame.
The lower numbers can be traced to the decrease in floor time, but considering the Knicks already have a superstar, Jalen Brunson, at point guard, Westbrook's contributions to the team would come from the bench.
Considering he was not particularly pleased with his limited playing time in Denver, thus motivating him to decline his option with the team, it is difficult to imagine a scenario where he would be thrilled with a limited role in the Big Apple.
Why the Knicks, a team with considerable opportunity to be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference next season considering the Celtics, Bucks, and Pacers are all expected to be without star players for the season due to torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs, would want to potentially mess with team chemistry in the name of bringing in a high-profile backup when the team can find a similarly suited player elsewhere is the question.
Yes, Westbrook is a viable Hall of Famer who, at his best, was excellent. He has also been associated with drama at times and that is not something the Knicks, who are still searching for a new head coach, need at this point.
The Kings, also rumored by Fischer and Marc Stein to be interested in Westbrook, need a point guard, with only Markelle Fultz and Devin Carter currently on the depth chart. He is a much better fit for that playoff-hungry team than a Knicks squad that is looking to supplement its stars rather than bring unnecessary attention.
With pressure mounting from their loyal fan base amid repeated close calls, the Knicks should focus on finding their next coach first, then worry about filling out the roster around Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Co. amid their pursuit of the long-elusive Larry O'Brien Trophy.
