Russell Westbrook’s next NBA stop is still up in the air, but Houston has started to surface as a possible landing spot if the veteran guard is willing to come in on the minimum.
Westbrook, a former NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, opted out of his $3.47 million player option with the Nuggets and is still searching for a team for the upcoming season. For a player with his name recognition and résumé, that would normally be a simple market to navigate. Instead, age and time have chipped away at his value, and his future is far from settled.
The Rockets have now been mentioned as a team that could make sense. Eric Santos of Sports Illustrated framed Houston as a legitimate option if Westbrook is open to the veteran minimum, writing, “Considering Westbrook’s willingness to accept a vet minimum and leadership aspect, the Rockets can pitch themselves to him as a serious destination to potentially win his 1st NBA championship,” reported Eric Santos of Sports Illustrated.
Houston’s pitch would not be built on a blank slate. The Rockets were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs this year, falling to a short-handed Lakers team in six games. With Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun expected back, the core won’t look dramatically different in 2026-27, but the team has already made moves to get better.
The biggest of those additions was Marcus Smart, who arrived from the Lakers after posting 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game last season while shooting 39.5% from the field and 33.1% from three. He gives Houston a real boost in the backcourt, especially on the defensive end, but the Rockets could still use more help there.
That’s where Westbrook enters the conversation. Fred VanVleet is still working his way back, and Houston will have to figure out how to fit him into the lineup.
Another guard would give the Rockets more flexibility and a fallback plan if VanVleet never quite gets into a groove. Westbrook wouldn’t be a seamless fit, but he could still bring value as a bench piece, pushing the pace, setting up teammates, and giving the team steady minutes.
His experience would also give Houston another voice for the younger players.
Last season, Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Those numbers show a player well past his peak, but not one without something left to give. In the right role, he could still matter.
There’s also the obvious storyline: a reunion with Kevin Durant. The two spent years together in Oklahoma City and came close to a title before going their separate ways. Bringing them back together in Houston would add a major twist to Westbrook’s next chapter.
For now, it’s still a long shot. But if the Rockets want to offer Westbrook a chance to chase a title and finish his career in a meaningful spot, they have a case to make.
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