Russell Westbrook's NBA future remains uncertain as he awaits new deal
It's the Summer of 2010s Point Guard Reunions. Damian Lillard went back to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Milwaukee Bucks waived him after he tore his Achilles to make room for Myles Turner. Now, Chris Paul has returned to the LA Clippers for likely his last season.
Everybody shifted their focus to Westbrook. He's the last 2010s point guard available. While a return to the Oklahoma City Thunder would be Disney storybook material, it doesn't reflect reality. The NBA champion has its roster set and doesn't need to bring in the future Hall-of-Famer.
The best the Thunder could offer is a one-day contract when Westbrook is ready to retire. That feels like an inevitable move. It happens all the time in sports as a sentimental gesture for franchise icons who've departed. After that, plans for his jersey retirement and statue should commence in time for the new OKC arena's opening in 2028.
While Westbrook has swallowed his pride in recent years and accepted a bench role, that might no longer be enough to get him a new NBA contract. It's been quite a nosedive for the superb-athletic guard over the last handful of seasons. Stil being unsigned this late in the offseason is a new experience.
There are still nearly three months left until 2025-26 training camps start. Westbrook should be able to drum up some NBA interest during that time. Maybe he can even wait until the season is underway to see if he could grab a deal as a possible sparkplug. But his slow offseason is another cruel reminder that the 36-year-old could be nearing the end of his career.
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