Kings, Westbrook Reportedly Share Strong Mutual Interest
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Free-agent point guard Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings continue to show “strong mutual interest” in a possible deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Westbrook, 36, opted out of a $3.47 million player option with the Denver Nuggets in June and has remained unsigned throughout the offseason. Sacramento has been linked to the nine-time All-Star for months and still lacks a proven reserve floor general after finishing 29th in both bench points and bench assists last season.
Charania noted that Westbrook already has ties across the Kings’ organization. He previously played alongside center Domantas Sabonis and guard Dennis Schröder, shares Los Angeles roots with wings DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, knows assistant general manager BJ Armstrong from the agency world, and holds mutual respect with new general manager Scott Perry and first-year head coach Doug Christie.
Carmichael Dave of SactownSports.com estimated a 70 percent chance that Westbrook eventually signs with Sacramento, provided the two sides align on contract terms. The radio host also reported that a lucrative offer to play in China is available to Westbrook, though the 2017 MVP would likely consider that option only after February’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles, his hometown.
The Kings currently have 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts, along with guard Keon Ellis on a non-guaranteed deal and guard Terence Davis on a training-camp agreement.
Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes over 75 appearances (36 starts) for Denver last season, shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from three-point range. He added 11.7 points, 2.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 13 playoff games.
Source: HoopsRumors
