The Sacramento Kings have been dancing around the signing of free agent Russell Westbrook for months at this point, finally signing him quite recently. Yet, they are ignoring another Nuggets free agent who could provide the rim protection they desperately need in NBA veteran DeAndre Jordan.
It's not hard to understand why the Kings would be interested in Russell Westbrook. He's a former All-Star, a former MVP, and the gold standard when it comes to triple-doubles. For now, at least. Nikola Jokic is coming for that triple-double title in a big way and will likely own it before he retires.
The Kings want the wrong Nugget
At the same time, it's hard to see how Westbrook fits into the Kings' current roster and defensive focus. He's best known as an elite scorer, playmaker, and rebounder. That's how you become the reigning king of triple-doubles in the NBA. Defense is a much different story.
It's not that Russ can't play defense. He brings the same energy and intensity to it that he brings to all other aspects of his game. The problem is that he is inconsistent, unfocused, and inefficient on the defensive end of the court, often making him a borderline liability in that area.
Jordan fits the Kings' defensive focus
In some ways, DeAndre Jordan, another free agent looking for a home after leaving the Nuggets, is the opposite of Westbrook. He is a powerful dunker, but brings little else to the offense. Plus, he's got surprisingly low number of assists, indicating that he is not the playmaker someone like Russell is.
Where Jordan excels is on defense. He is known as a rim protector, a shot blocker, and a rebounder, three things he still does well even after 18 seasons in the NBA. These are all attributes that the Kings can put to good use, especially since Sabonis isn't exactly a force on defense.
Backing up Domantas Sabonis
What's great about Sabonis is that he is an All-Star scorer and rebounder, making him a double-double nightmare for the opposing team. What he isn't so good at is defense. He doesn't do a good job of owning the paint or defending the rim, which is something a team needs out of a great center.
DeAndre Jordan could fill those gaps. He's not going to match Sabonis' points production on offense, but he can hold things down on defense and clean up the glass. Considering how focused Doug Christie is on defense, Jordan might be worth considering as an addition to the roster.