Russell Westbrook Predicted to Sign Kings Contract in Free Agency by NBA Insiders
The Sacramento Kings, who have made bolstering their backcourt a point of emphasis this offseason, reportedly are the favorites to add a veteran point guard.
Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon, "league sources consider the Sacramento Kings the most likely destination for" free agent Russell Westbrook. MacMahon noted that, if Westbrook ends up in Sacramento, he'd play a bench role like he did with the Denver Nuggets, serving as a secondary ballhandler to Dennis Schröder, who signed with the Kings in June.
Should Westbrook sign with the Kings, it would mark his sixth team in the last seven seasons. Since his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, he's played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and most recently, the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook's role has also changed drastically over the past few seasons. He's no longer the triple-double-getting MVP candidate he once was, but he's transitioned well into a role off the bench.
Last season in Denver, he put up 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game, mostly off the bench.
He likely wouldn't turn Sacramento into an NBA Finals contender, but he would certainly get the Kings closer to their goal of reaching the playoffs.
