{"id":144743,"date":"2025-06-14T17:27:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T21:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=144743"},"modified":"2025-06-14T19:47:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T23:47:11","slug":"nba-suitors-for-russell-westbrook-in-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/14\/nba-suitors-for-russell-westbrook-in-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Potential NBA Suitors For Russell Westbrook In Free Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It was Friday when Marc Stein reported that Denver Nuggets point guard <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/westbru01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russell Westbrook<\/a> was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/13\/russell-westbrook-free-agent\/\" target=\"_self\">declining his 2025-26 player option<\/a>. The option was for $3.4 million, but he will instead enter unrestricted free agency. In 2024-25, he posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. After playing his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he could be on his sixth team in seven years come next season. While it is hard to find a perfect fit for the 36-year-old Russell Westbrook, here are five NBA teams that could be potential suitors for the future Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144805\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-144805\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144805\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26154144_168414264_lowres-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-144805\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">May 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) guards in the third quarter during game four of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Denver\u2019s Russell Westbrook is declining his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, league sources tell <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSteinLine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheSteinLine<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>More NBA coverage: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RG4evmIKfi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/RG4evmIKfi<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/n53xTbK9EO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/n53xTbK9EO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSteinLine\/status\/1933517362268889424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>(Note: On June 4, European basketball reporter Nemanja Zoric tweeted that Hapoel Tel Aviv has interest in Westbrook.)<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hapoel Tel Aviv has made initial contact with former NBA All Star Russell Westbrook. <br \/>Im told the Eurocup champions are planning to make him an offer with a salary never seen before in European basketball.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nemanja \u017dori\u010d (@zoric_nemanja) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zoric_nemanja\/status\/1930340528610296203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>5 Potential NBA Suitors For Russell Westbrook In Free Agency<\/h2>\n<h3>Dallas Mavericks<\/h3>\n<p>With <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> not expected to return from his \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/16\/mavericks-kyrie-irving-injury-return-news\/\" target=\"_self\">ACL tear until January<\/a>, Dallas will be without their star point guard for approximately half the season. Lead guards <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/exumda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dante Exum<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dinwisp01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spencer Dinwiddie<\/a> are entering free agency. The last time Westbrook played with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/davisan02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Davis<\/a> while on the Los Angeles Lakers though, it did not go quite well for the triple-double king as he was often the scapegoat for the Lakers woes.<\/p>\n<h3>Denver Nuggets<\/h3>\n<p>Even though Westbrook declined his player option, it doesn\u2019t mean a return to Denver is off the table. Three-time MVP <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> certainly seemed to enjoy having him as a teammate, and his word undoubtedly carries weight. Westbrook \u00a0was impactful most nights last season, but he struggled in the last five games in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still, it shouldn\u2019t complete sour what was done over the season.<\/p>\n<h3>Miami Heat<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Davion Mitchell<\/a> performed well for the Heat after they acquired him from the Toronto Raptors. He is a restricted free agent though, so he isn\u2019t a sure thing to remain with Miami. Mitchell also isn\u2019t quite the scorer Westbrook still is. After a wildly disappointing year from <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/roziete01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terry Rozier<\/a> in 2024-25, adding Westbrook could improve the lead guard rotation.<\/p>\n<h3>Milwaukee Bucks<\/h3>\n<p>Much like the Mavericks, the Bucks star point guard is recovering from a major injury. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Damian Lillard<\/a> tore his Achilles tendon in the opening round of the playoffs. He will likely miss most, if not all, of next season. Milwaukee would be in need of scoring outside of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> (if not traded). Westbrook could take a bit of the scoring load off of the superstar\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n<h3>Sacramento Kings<\/h3>\n<p>After the Kings traded <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/foxde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> in February, they normally went without a traditional point guard in their starting lineup. They signed former first overall pick <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/fultzma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Markelle Fultz<\/a> shortly after trading Fox, but he received minimal playing time. Even at his advanced age, Westbrook would be the team\u2019s best playmaker whether utilized as a starter or reserve.<\/p>\n<p>Photo credit: \u00a9 Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It was Friday when Marc Stein reported that Denver Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook was declining his 2025-26 player option. The option was for $3.4 million, but he will instead enter unrestricted free agency. In 2024-25, he posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. After playing his first 11 seasons [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5060,"featured_media":144803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,20,2,62,3],"tags":[297,53],"class_list":["post-144743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nuggets","category-featured","category-nba","category-news","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-russell-westbrook"],"modified_by":"Kenny Kluska","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5060"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144743"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144812,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144743\/revisions\/144812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}