Former Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been one of the many names floating around in the pool of free agents this offseason. While interest in the guard was reportedly tied to Ben Simmons’ signing, the nine-time All-Star is now set to join a team.
According to a recent NBA insider report, the veteran guard is expected to sign with the Sacramento Kings for the 2025-26 season. Westbrook’s agent, Jeff Schwarz, has been in constant communication with the Kings franchise, and a “strong mutual interest” between the two parties was also reported earlier.
The notion of Westbrook joining the Kings is an intriguing one. With Sacramento also acquiring Dennis Schroder this offseason, the Kings appear to have significant flexibility in their playmaking options.
With two capable veteran guards anchoring their backcourt, the Kings will be able to adjust their starting lineups and rotations in accordance to matchups. In this case, Westbrook may receive preference owing to his experience with orchestrating an offense and overall upside.
In the 2024-25 season, Westbrook played a vital role for the Nuggets as the backup point guard. The 36-year-old recorded an average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc.
Although he has lost a step, the guard is still capable of putting pressure on interior defenders. This created a lot of opportunities for the Nuggets to score from the outside.
When Jamal Murray was sidelined with injury, Westbrook stepped into the role of the starting point guard and flourished. In a span of 14 games, the guard notched an uptick in performance, with an average of 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. He also recorded a triple-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists during a game against the Golden State Warriors.
Although Westbrook’s time in Denver was also marked by some internal disputes, it could be considered a successful endeavor in the greater scheme of things.
Joining the Kings at this stage poses to be an interesting proposition for the guard. Given how Sacramento’s currently constructed, it seems likely that they will be looking to make some changes.
The franchise has been linked to Jonathan Kuminga in trade rumors. Should they succeed in acquiring him, the Kings are likely to facilitate a trade for DeMar DeRozan. In many ways, Sacramento could be a very different team at the start of the season.
While this may not immediately transform Sacramento into a playoff contender, it gives them the potential to be competitive. With Westbrook running the offense again, however, they will surely be interesting to watch.
