It's kind of crazy that a legend with the bonafides of Russell Westbrook remains a free agent without a team this close to the start of the season. Despite that, there is still an opportunity for the Sacramento Kings to bring the undeniable legend in, though there's no good operational reason why.
The 2024-2025 season saw Westbrook play with the Denver Nuggets. While he actually seemed to be happier than in years past, it's hard to say what exactly Russell brought to the table that existing members of the Nuggets roster didn't already have on lock.
It was funny to watch the fear in Rudy Gobert's eyes as Westbrook ran him down after Gobert threw Christian Braun to the ground. Fans could literally see Gobert freak out as Russ charged him. The only person who would have scared Gobert more would have been Draymond Green.
The Kings really don't need Westbrook
Throughout the summer, there was ongoing talk about the Kings bringing Westbrook in. The plan was to trade Malik Monk or DeMar DeRozan to open up a space for Russ. The Kings seemed to be the only team interested in bringing him on board.
It never materialized, and Westbrook remains a free agent. With the acquisition of Dennis Schroder, bringing in another point guard became less of a priority. The Kings already have a list of guards on their roster who can back up Schroder.
Plus, Russell doesn't really fit the defensive mindset the Kings are going for under Doug Christie. Westbrook can play tough, non-nonsense defense, but he also gets distracted easily, particularly by chasing down rebounds. This causes catastrophic lapses on defense, particularly in recent seasons.
Not the right way for Westbrook to go out
The reality is that bringing Westbrook on board didn't make sense in the offseason. It makes even less sense now that training camp is underway and the preseason is moving forward. Still, the Kings could make cuts that open a space, which they should consider giving to Westbrook.
Russell might not have an NBA Championship ring on his finger, but he remains one of the greatest players to ever hit the court. If this is the end of his NBA career, it's not how anyone wants to see it happen. A player of Russell Westbrook's caliber has earned better.
If the Kings end up with an open spot, they should do right by Westbrook. Not out of pity, but to bring one of the most seasoned professionals in the league on board for a final ride. Even if he only ends up playing a few minutes here and there, he will at least have the opportunity to go out on his shield.