Point guard Russell Westbrook will be a free agent at the end of the season, and he has definitely managed to rebuild his value during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. There is no doubt that there will be a number of teams that are potentially interested in adding him, as he is an elite playmaker, rebounder, and slasher who can impact a number of areas on the court.
The playoffs showed that Russell Westbrook is still an elite player, as he averaged 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.4 APG for the Los Angeles Clippers. Though obviously this doesn’t mean he can keep this up through the whole season, this shows that he can still help a team with his skillset, and he notably kept the Clippers close in all the games that they lost.
In this article, we will discuss the 3 best destinations for Russell Westbrook in free agency. There are good reasons for him to join all of these teams, and perhaps we’ll see him go to one of them in free agency.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
If the financial aspect is key for Russell Westbrook, then he could decide to go back to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are a young team that is in need of veteran guidance right now, and Westbrook is obviously a franchise legend. What better person to try and help the team learn how to win? There have been a lot of players that have credited Westbrook with helping their development, and perhaps having him next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren could be beneficial.
The team obviously has the cap space to offer Russell Westbrook a lucrative, multi-year deal, and retiring with the franchise definitely wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Westbrook. He would be able to spend his years as a veteran mentor on the team, and perhaps he could even win a championship as those young players grow and become better.
In terms of on-court, it is likely that Russell Westbrook would be the sixth man for the team. This is a role that he knows how to play, and perhaps he could end up winning the Sixth Man of the Year award with the franchise due to his elite ability to put up stats. This would definitely be an intriguing destination for him, though not the best spot if Russell Westbrook is prioritizing the ability to compete immediately.
2. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a team that could potentially try and get Russell Westbrook in free agency to try and improve their roster. He would be reunited with former co-star Kevin Durant and could be a solid player either off the bench or maybe even as a starter depending on how Chris Paul ages. Westbrook’s rim pressure would definitely be beneficial for the team, as they don’t really have anyone who can slash to the rim and make plays for 3PT shooters like he can.
The team would definitely have the spacing to accommodate Russell Westbrook’s weaknesses: they have elite 3PT shooters such as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant and a vertical spacer who can be a lob threat in Deandre Ayton. Historically, Russell Westbrook has done with those types of players, and there’s no reason for that not to be the case with the Phoenix Suns.
Of course, the Phoenix Suns aren’t going to be a team that can offer Russell Westbrook the most money possible. They already have four big-money players on the team that take up the majority of the team’s cap space. However, if Russell Westbrook is willing to take a pay cut, they would be one of the best options for him in terms of basketball fit. The chance to win a ring on a superteam could entice Westbrook, though obviously that is not the only consideration for players in free agency.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
The team that I truly believe Russell Westbrook should try to stay with is the Los Angeles Clippers. Though there may be more lucrative offers out there for Westbrook, the Clippers have already signaled a desire to keep him. The key reason for Russell Westbrook to stay with the Clippers is his fit with the franchise, as they have absolutely everything that can help him succeed and potentially win a championship.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are elite co-stars, and talent-wise, they are a championship-level duo. Though they may end up missing some games due to injury in the regular season, Russell Westbrook’s ability to scale up his role and keep the Clippers competitive could be useful in helping them withstand the games that they miss. Playing with Leonard and George would be his best chance of winning a championship next season, especially if Leonard is healthy and available.
Even beyond the star power on the roster, the Los Angeles Clippers have a lot of elite 3PT shooters on the team, such as Norman Powell, Bones Hyland, and Eric Gordon. All of these players can space the floor for Russell Westbrook on his drives to the rim. Coach Ty Lue also clearly trusts him to be a primary ballhandler and make decisions on the floor, and in terms of fit, there is no question that the Clippers are the spot for Russell Westbrook.
On some level, all players want to be on franchises where they are appreciated for their contributions. That is likely true for Russell Westbrook as well, and everyone in the Clippers organization appreciates what he brings to the table. In the locker room, he is highly respected as one of the team’s leaders, and in some ways, his ferociousness as a player is what they need. In terms of the situation, the Los Angeles Clippers are definitely the best option though one can’t fault Westbrook if he decides to go to a team that will give him a better contract.
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