Russell Westbrook may not be in Sacramento right now, but the Kings’ relationship with him could still have another chapter.
That’s because there’s a path for the front office to bring him back later in the season, and the case for doing it is pretty clear: Westbrook was a real stabilizer for the Kings last year, and he still fits what they need as the rebuild keeps moving.
When Sacramento signed Westbrook in the 2025 offseason, they were the only team willing to make room for him. He had just been essentially turfed by the Nuggets, a move that did not work out well for them. The Kings gave the living legend another place to land, and he made the most of it.
Brodie broke records, made history, and added significantly to his career triple-double total. He also served as a mentor to many of the rookies and was Sacramento’s starting point guard. For a team that needed something to hold onto, Westbrook was a major reason last season did not become a complete write-off.
Keeping him, though, was another story. Sacramento simply couldn’t retain Westbrook this season because its salary cap space is nonexistent, and the team had to make hard choices. For now, Brodie is out there with no interest from another team yet, but that could change.
The Kings do have two open roster spots, but no salary cap space to sign anyone. A big part of that is the nearly $100 million tied up in Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis this season. Those contracts are slowing the rebuild down.
Both players are good, but they are being ridiculously overpaid, which makes them tough to move. LaVine’s situation will become easier to navigate as the season goes on, since his contract expires after 2026-2027 and the remaining time and money on it will shrink.
That’s where a Westbrook reunion could come into play. An opportunity to re-sign him, likely around the 2027 trade deadline, may open up. If Sacramento has the cap space then, the Kings need to bring Brodie back.
There’s already a foundation for it. The coaching staff and the young core have repeatedly spoken highly of working with him, and that kind of fit matters. Westbrook could still have a meaningful role in the rebuild, mostly as a mentor and possibly as a coach.
It might not happen until after the season, once the LaVine situation is settled. But even if the timing takes a while, signing Westbrook would still be the right move.
In Other News...
Zach LaVine Just Raised The Stakes For Sacramento's Next Step
Zach LaVines decision to stay put gives Sacramento a very different kind of offseason headline than the one many expected. The Kings had been looking at possible trade paths, but LaVine chose to opt into his $49 million player option, keeping him on the roster and immediately raising the importance of what comes next for a team trying to steady itself after an injury-hit season.
LaVine said he still believes in the culture and the potential around the group, and he pointed to the promise of a backcourt pairing with rookie Darius Acuff as part of why he sees a path forward. Sacramento has also tried to reinforce that vision by adding new players out of strong college programs, a sign the front office is still betting on cohesion and development as much as talent. [Read more 🡒]
Keegan Murray Could Shape The Kings Offense In A New Way
The Kings are heading into a transition season with a roster that blends established veterans and younger pieces, and the early emphasis is likely to be on finding new ways to make the offense more dynamic. Sacramento also has seventh-overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. in the mix, which only adds to the sense that the team will be experimenting with different lineup combinations as it tries to build around both present-tense scoring and long-term development.
One of the more interesting possibilities involves Keegan Murray in pick-and-roll actions with Acuff, a pairing that could give the Kings another layer to explore. Murray has not spent much time as a screen-setter, but if that part of his game grows, it could open up more options for Sacramento and help unlock a different kind of offensive flow than the one fans have seen before. [Read more 🡒]