It wouldn’t be an NBA offseason without Russell Westbrook’s name floating around, and this summer is no different. The 37-year-old former MVP is a free agent after a season with the Sacramento Kings, and after some radio silence early in the cycle, a new rumor has him potentially landing back in Washington.
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Wizards have interest in bringing Westbrook back to D.C. The front office knows him well — he played there in 2020-21 before getting traded to the Lakers. Now, the conversation is about him being the primary backup to Trae Young.
That might sound a little crowded. The Wizards already have Young, D’Angelo Russell, Bub Carrington, Jaden Hardy, and Sharife Cooper on the roster at point guard. But Washington seems to think Westbrook could bring some veteran stability off the bench, even if the fit looks a bit messy on paper.
Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 64 games with the Kings. Those numbers were actually an uptick from his previous two seasons with the Clippers and Nuggets, which might explain why teams are still calling. Age is a factor, obviously, but the guy can still fill a box score.
The Kings made Westbrook expendable when they drafted Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in last week’s draft. On top of that, Zach LaVine picked up his player option to stay in Sacramento, locking up the backcourt rotation even more. So Westbrook hits the open market again, but the waiting game might not last as long as it did last summer.
Last year, Westbrook sat in limbo for months before the Kings swooped in with a contract just weeks before training camp. This time, the Wizards could offer him a clearer role, even if it’s a backup gig behind a younger star.
Washington hasn’t confirmed anything yet. Neither has Westbrook’s camp. But the rumor mill is spinning, and a reunion with the Wizards — the team he helped drag to the playoffs a few years back — has a certain logic to it.
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