We’re creeping toward NBA training camp season, and Russell Westbrook still remains unsigned. According to the latest reporting from Jake Fischer, the only team that has been linked to Russ is the Sacramento Kings, but with them being held hostage by the Jonathan Kuminga saga, there’s a good chance that Russ enters the season as a free agent.
That’s a pretty amazing fall from grace, not just for a former league MVP, but for a guy who was playing meaningful minutes in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals just a few short months ago. For all his volatility and polarizing nature, Westbrook was the sixth man for one of the best teams in the league last year.
And yet, the Nuggets showed no interest in bringing him back, and even with their open roster spot and need for a backup point guard, there hasn’t been a whiff of interest. Simply put, the Nuggets no longer need his game-wrecking presence. They were so thin last season that Russ was a perfect innings-eater off the bench.
He came in and took over, for better or worse. Denver needed that, and clearly so did Russ. But now that they’ve revamped the bench this offseason, the Nuggets have a balanced, versatile second unit that should play smart and share the ball. Westbrook just hasn’t proven he can adapt to play like that, and it was better to part ways.
Westbrook deserves to be on an NBA roster
All the same, Russ was very important for the Nuggets last year, and they likely don’t survive the regular season without him. He appeared in 75 games and another 13 playoff games last year and more than proved he can still play, making a positive overall impact on both ends while bringing energy, leadership, and competitive spirit.
The Nuggets no longer need him, but they are also one of the deepest, most competitive teams in the league. There are a number of teams around the league that could absolutely use Westbrook, and he could immediately step in and help out.
The problem is, do they want the sideshow that comes with Russ? Rebuilding teams would rather give those minutes and ball-handling reps to their young players, while contending teams would rather have more reliable, less overbearing players who fit into roles better.
That leaves a small cluster of teams in the middle; the ones that want to be good, but have no real ambitions of winning a title. That leads to teams like the Kings, Bulls, Heat, and a few others. Hopefully, Russ can find a home, as the future Hall of Famer has more to give and belongs in the league. But at the same time, Nuggets fans have to feel even better about this offseason.