Russell Westbrook’s name has been floating around plenty this summer, but one of the louder rumors is already getting swatted away. A source close to the situation told Marc Stein of The Stein Line that the report tying Westbrook to Hapoel Tel Aviv is “laughably false.” The rumor spread on social media even though it came from what Stein described as a dubious source.
It’s not the first time Westbrook has been linked to the EuroLeague club only to have it shut down. In June 2025, Hapoel Tel Aviv general manager said speculation about a possible deal with the former NBA MVP was “100% fake news.”
What’s real is Sacramento’s interest. The Kings want Westbrook back as a veteran mentor for rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., but Stein says it’s unclear whether Westbrook would be eager to jump in.
At 37, he’d almost certainly be looking at a smaller role after averaging 29.0 minutes per game for Sacramento last season. Westbrook also didn’t sign with the Kings until October 16 last year.
Stein’s latest roundup also keeps Bradley Beal in the mix with the Clippers. A return to L.A. hasn’t been ruled out, even after Beal declined his $5.6MM player option in June and hit unrestricted free agency.
Miami has also shown interest. The roster math, though, is tricky: if the Clippers complete their Kawhi Leonard trade, they’ll sit at 14 players on guaranteed deals, with Cam Christie on a non-guaranteed contract.
Add in the team’s reported sign-and-trade interest in Peyton Watson and the possibility of re-signing restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, and there may not be an obvious opening for Beal on the projected 15-man regular season roster.
Watson himself remains very much in play. Stein says the Clippers, Bucks, and Cavaliers are still teams to watch for the Nuggets restricted free agent.
Cleveland, according to league sources cited by The Stein Line, continues to explore trade possibilities involving Dennis Schröder and/or Max Strus. If the Cavs can move one or both, that could open a route to offering Watson a four-year contract through a sign-and-trade.
James Harden is also sitting in the middle of Cleveland’s moving parts. The unrestricted free agent guard remains in limbo while the Cavaliers weigh those roster options, but Stein says Harden is still “a lock” to eventually re-sign with Cleveland. The team is still chasing possible pathways to Watson or Jonathan Kuminga before finalizing Harden on a multiyear deal.
In Other News...
Clippers Still Face A Risky Bradley Beal Decision
Bradley Beal is back on the market, and the Clippers are at least keeping the door open. After a limited run last season because of injury, the veteran guard is drawing interest from several teams, including Los Angeles, Miami and Boston, as contenders continue to weigh whether his scoring pedigree is worth the cost and the uncertainty.
For the Clippers, the decision is especially tricky because Beal brings name value and proven talent, but also a medical question mark that can shape an entire offseason plan. Miami is also believed to be in the mix as it looks at veteran options around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, yet the same concerns follow Beal wherever he goes, leaving this as one of the more delicate calls still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Still Have One Intriguing Late Summer Option
Late summer roster math has a way of lingering around the Clippers, and this one is no different. Marc Stein reported that Bradley Beal is still on their radar as a possible signing option, which keeps a familiar veteran name attached to a team that has already spent plenty of time navigating the edges of its roster construction. For now, the conversation is less about fitting skill into the rotation and more about making sure the books and spots line up cleanly.
Los Angeles would need to clear the necessary room before anything like that could move forward, with the Kawhi Leonard trade still part of the equation on the roster count. Around the league, other teams are juggling their own summer business too, with Cleveland exploring trades to open space as it keeps options open on Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga while working toward a James Harden return, but for the Clippers the unresolved part is simpler and more immediate: whether there is actually a lane to add another name at all. [Read more 🡒]