Despite the Nuggets’ clear need for a backup point guard behind Jamal Murray, and the fact that last season’s top reserve, Russell Westbrook, remains unsigned, there has been virtually no talk of a reunion. Nobody knows what Russ has left at this point better than Denver, and they could almost certainly bring him back on a minimum, yet it hasn’t happened.
The Nuggets have drastically upgraded their bench and overall depth, but they haven’t brought in a true point guard. They can work through Bruce Brown and Jalen Pickett during the regular season, but that may be a big ask for both to consistently fill that need on a nightly basis.
And those are just the regular backup duties. Jamal Murray has missed at least 15 games in six seasons in a row, and unfortunately, he’s not getting any younger. The Nuggets have an open roster spot remaining and could badly use at least a regular-season innings-eater. Russ is built to fill that role, but if Denver wanted him back, they’d have him by now.
Nuggets ready to get off Westbrook roller coaster
While Westbrook played well last season, his presence in games is very loud. He’s not shy about shooting and monopolizing possessions for better or worse. He brought a much-needed boost last year, but the Nuggets have more versatility now and don’t need the nightly unsteadiness.
Westbrook would come up with untimely turnovers, head-scratching miscues, and wild shots far too often, and they happened far too frequently in the postseason. That’s the spot the Nuggets were in, and they rode it as far as they could, but it was time to get off the ride. They want to diversify the offense and spread the ball around.
Nuggets need reliability in backup point guard
With the additions of Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, and Brown, they have guys who can shoot and finish plays. They are going to share the ball and run a balanced offense. If anything, the team needs a steady hand in the backcourt to keep things moving along. That’s simply not Russ, and it never will be.
It’s best for the two sides to part ways at this point, and it seems like all parties recognize that. Russ declined his player option and chose to become a free agent. He could still re-sign with the Nuggets on another minimum that would pay him slightly more, and maybe he expected that to happen, but with how things have played out, it makes little sense.
Westbrook was a good soldier last season, and he can definitely still play. There are teams that he could help a lot, that could use his services, but the Nuggets aren’t one. Hopefully, he’ll catch up with a team desperate for some offense and prove there’s something left in the tank.