If you told anyone a few years ago that soon the league would start its regular season and Russell Westbrook would not be on a team, people would not believe you. The former MVP decided to opt out of his $3.5 million player option with the Nuggets to become a free agent this summer.
Unfortunately for him, no other team in the league showed any real interest in signing him in the usual circumstances. This led to several experts questioning his decision to leave the Nuggets in the first place without any guaranteed alternative team to join.
Some even believed that he should have opted into his contract and then demanded a trade instead to at least ensure he has a guaranteed contract. Among them was the three-time NBA champion Danny Green. The former Lakers player recently claimed that he knew why Westbrook opted out of his contract with the Nuggets and gave his opinion on the situation.
“I thought he had something guaranteed, like something in the books, like somebody’s interested. For you to opt out, when from what I heard they were not planning to play him at all this year, even behind certain guys that he should be above,” said Green on his own podcast ‘Inside the Green Room.’
“I feel Russ is more out of pocket with opting out of his contract and not having one in place already,” said Green, deeming it an amateur mistake to do so. “You still take the guarantee, you still make them trade you, whatever. Take the guaranteed money unless you know for sure that you have somebody in place.”
“Some people lie, some people take shit back, some disappear into the market like they don’t have space,” Green further added to explain how General Managers often manipulate players during free agency. Green went on to compare the situation with Westbrook’s former rival, Damian Lillard, and his situation with the Bucks and Blazers. The Bucks waived Lillard after he injured his Achilles, and then he signed with the Blazers despite being out for the season.
“Everybody wants the Damian Lillard love, but not everyone is going to get it. At least you can go back to your old place and get a minimum. Dame’s getting $14 million and sh** you can’t even get a minimum and go to a place you called home, which is a tough business.”
“You’ve got to take that role, you’ve got to accept that role of being on the bench and grooming these guys. I think if Russell is okay with that, he can definitely be on one of the teams. However, most guys in that field have that ego, and now superstars are unable to take a back seat. That’s why I think Russ is more out of pocket than GMs for opting out without having something in hand,” said Green in conclusion.
Russell Westbrook spent most of 2024-25 coming off the bench for the Nuggets. A player who once averaged triple-doubles in consecutive seasons was now a shell of himself. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games played last season while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from the three-point line.
Considering that they allegedly had no plans to play Westbrook this season, he clearly made a choice focused on his own career to opt out of staying in Denver. But some might argue that Westbrook is just finding it hard to accept that the tough side of this business includes teams sometimes picking youth over experience.
Westbrook has now found himself in a position where, for the first time in 18 years, the NBA would start a regular season without Westbrook on a roster. He could join the Rockets in December if the stars align for him, like they are rumored to be doing at the moment with Fred VanVleet’s ACL injury. But even that is based on a lot of what-ifs at the moment, considering there is no confirmed interest from the Rockets to sign him.
Do you think Westbrook was right to leave the Nuggets because they did not plan to play him? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
