Russell Westbrook has not suited up in the blue, orange, and yellow threads in seven seasons, but OKC Thunder fans still wish nothing but the best for their beloved franchise GOAT.
Although in the twilight years of his playing career, the former MVP has proven capable of still providing quality contributions within the rotation of a legitimate title hopeful.
This past campaign, Westbrook posted impressive, all-around averages of 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while coming off the pine for the 50-win Denver Nuggets. These efforts ultimately wound up having him place as a top-eight finalist in the Sixth Man of the Year race.
Yet, despite this production, now two full months into free agency, the point guard remains unsigned. Though he's visibly eager to continue his playing career, the lack of interest from prospective buyers this summer has led some to believe that retirement may be his most likely course of action.
However, recently, the folks at Bleacher Report went about and put a positive spin on Westbrook's free agency situation that should give both him and Thunder fans a reason to be hopeful.
Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook predicted to play next season
In a piece predicting the fates of the top remaining free agents in the association, writer Eric Pincus dove into the curious case of Westbrook's free agency, highlighting how a regime change out in Denver, coupled with their slew of top-flight offseason additions, served as the driving force in his ultimate departure from the Mile High City.
Still, considering his obvious talent level and ability to impact the game in a multitude of ways, his addition to a team's rotation could prove quite beneficial for a backcourt-needy ball club.
To Pincus, the "obvious" destination for Westbrook is the Sacramento Kings, as he noted that "they need a point guard to back up Dennis Schroder," a player with whom The Brodie already has an established connection, thanks to their days playing together on the Thunder back in 2018-19.
Now, it's important to realize that Sacramento currently has Malik Monk on their roster and, if he were to remain in tow, he's a player who will command significant playing time next season. However, based on reports, the organization has actively been trying to trade the veteran all summer long.
Because of this, Pincus predicts that Westbrook will ultimately wind up inking a two-year minimum deal with a player option for 2026-27.