Fresh off the first pick of the draft, the Washington Wizards have some small roster needs heading into NBA Free Agency. While several of their star players are locked in for the future, including Trae Young, there are still pieces missing heading into their first real competitive season in half a decade. One thing Washington is seriously lacking is veteran depth, as their young core is vastly inexperienced and could benefit from a steady presence to ease clutch time moments of Young and Anthony Davis.
However, the Wizards can fill that role quickly, and it seems they want to by bringing in a familiar face. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, Washington has an interest in reuniting with nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook.
Wizards Could Reunite With 2017 MVP During NBA Free Agency
The NBA Free Agency period is set to begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. EST. While several intriguing storylines are going on right now — which also include Washington, Golden State, and another potential Davis trade — Westbrook hasn’t seen his name in many of the headlines. In turn, Washington could bring the 2016-17 MVP back without much competition, giving the Wizards an amazing, do-it-all guard coming off the bench.
Questioning the reunion? Washington should be an attractive destination to Westbrook, who could be signing one of the last contracts of his career this offseason. Not only is it a great fit roster-wise, but Westbrook, general manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger all tie back to the beginning of the veteran guard’s career.
Last season, the 18-year veteran averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 64 games for the Sacramento Kings. While his production has fallen off, if Westbrook could return to half the player he was during his first stint with Washington, the Wizards could become the team to beat next season.
Washington and Westbrook
Let’s rewind to the 2020 NBA offseason. Westbrook was coming off an electric year with the Houston Rockets. He was selected for his ninth All-Star appearance and made the All-NBA Third Team while averaging 27.2 points, seven assists, and nearly eight rebounds while co-leading the Rockets during the NBA Bubble.
Washington, on the other hand, was looking to move on from franchise legend John Wall, pivoting to Bradley Beal as the Wizards’ leader. Eventually, Washington and Houston agreed to swap guards in a dramatic offseason trade.
What happened next? Westbrook would return to a near-MVP caliber version of himself. Through his 65 games with the Wizards during the 2020-21 season, Westbrook averaged a monstrous stat line of 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 11.7 assists.
It’s arguably one of the most impressive displays in the 18 seasons Westbrook has been in the league. While it didn’t earn him any awards, it was enough to push Washington to their most recent playoff appearance, and earned the guard a trade out of D.C to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Front Office Ties
Another intriguing reunion for Westbrook would be the Wizards’ duo at the helm of the front office. Dawkins and Winger both know Westbrook well; Dawkins was an intern for the Oklahoma City Thunder when the guard was drafted, staying there from 2008 to 2023. That meant Dawkins was there to watch Westbrook grow from a rookie to an MVP, giving OKC everything he had before being shipped out to Houston for Chris Paul.
Winger, on the other hand, joined the Thunder in 2010, becoming their assistant general manager. He would stay with the team throughout their dominance in the 2010’s before departing for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. After getting the job with Washington in May of 2023, Winger offered Dawkins the GM role just a few weeks later.
Since June of 2023, Winger and Dawkins have been moving pieces, flipping players and completely overhauling the roster in some of the most creative ways imaginable. Now with their sights set on a new era in D.C, they may bring in a player they admire. Westbrook is coming back to D.C is a reunion that few may see coming, but the cards have been laid out for quite some time.
© Amber Searls-Imagn Images
