One NBA writer has proposed that the Oklahoma City Thunder reunite with superstar point guard Russell Westbrook this offseason.
Jedd Pagaduan of ClutchPoints believes Westbrook “could be a game-changing presence for the Thunder off the bench.”
“The youth movement is in full swing in OKC,” Pagaduan wrote. “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence as a deserving member of the All-NBA First Team means that the Thunder, despite being as young as they are, are closer to contention than one might think, especially after nearly making it into the 2023 NBA playoffs as the eight-seed.
“Adding Russell Westbrook doesn’t make total basketball sense since Gilgeous-Alexander already shares a backcourt with rising star Josh Giddey. But if Westbrook fails to find a suitable contract anywhere, perhaps the Thunder could make a bold statement showing that they care about those who mean so much to their franchise by inking their former franchise star to a huge one-year deal. By then, Westbrook could be a game-changing presence for the Thunder off the bench.”
Westbrook becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The former MVP played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in 2022-23, averaging 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists while shooting 43.6% from the field, 31.1% from beyond the arc and 65.6% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
A future Hall of Famer, Westbrook is arguably the best player in Thunder franchise history. He’s first all-time in free throws, points and triple-doubles.
OKC won 40 games this season. The team won the 9-10 play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans but lost the 8-9 play-in game to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will be fascinating to see if the front office has any interest in bringing Westbrook back to town this offseason once free agency starts.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook finished his Thunder career with averages of 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists.
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