Though most of the free agent pool has dried up, there are still some interesting names on the market. Among the most notable players still looking for a home for next season is former Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook. As the former MVP continues to survey his options, one Western Conference team has been listed as the best situation for him.
The former MVP has become a bit of a journeyman in the latter half of his career, suiting up for multiple teams in recent years in hopes of finding another long-term fit. His latest stop was the Nuggets, where he performed well primarily serving as the team's sixth man. Across 75 games, Westbrook averaged 13.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 6.1 APG.
In a recent column for CBS Sports, NBA writer Sam Quinn broke down fits for some of the top remaining free agents. Given their need for backcourt depth, the Sacramento Kings were brought up when discussing Westbrook.
"The Kings are the only team out there that even sort of fits that bill," Quinn wrote. "He's been linked to Sacramento all offseason, and even with Dennis Schröder in place, there still isn't much passing here. The Kings also fell from 11th in pace in the first half of last season (when they had De'Aaron Fox) to 28th in the second half (when he was replaced by Zach LaVine). They could use someone to push pace and hopefully generate some easy points, and while Westbrook's off-ball defense is inconsistent, he can be tough against opposing ball-handlers because of his athleticism and strength."
After going through multiple changes last season, the Kings are in need of a passionate player who can help rally the team back to a competitive state in the Western Conference. While he isn't the superstar talent he once was, Westbrook still brings energy and intensity on a nightly basis no matter the situation. Whether it's as a starter or staying in a sixth man role, he could provide a much-needed boost to the new-look Kings.
Although they've both struggled to find consistent homes in the league, Westbrook and Dennis Schroder could fill the void in Sacramento's backcourt left by De'Aaron Fox.