Russell Westbrook had a path back to Sacramento, but he passed on it.
The Kings were in the market for a veteran guard to support seventh-overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., and Westbrook’s name lingered around the conversation for a while after his one-year deal with the team expired. Sacramento reportedly put a contract on the table for the nine-time All-Star.
Washington did, too. Westbrook still walked away from both.
NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that the sticking point was the role being offered. "League sources tell The Stein Line that Washington made a two-year offer to bring Westbrook back to the nation's capital.
Sources say Westbrook - not the team - is the party that ended those talks. The 37-year-old apparently balked at the specific terms of the offer and/or the role presented and has decided to stop playing instead," Stein wrote.
Stein added, "It was our Jake Fischer, of course, who first revealed Sacramento's interest in bringing Westbrook back for a second season ... but ... same thing. A reduced role behind lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. compared to the role Westbrook had last season did not appeal to him."
That last part gets to the heart of it. Westbrook started 58 games for the Kings last season, and backing up Acuff Jr. would have meant a clear step down.
For Sacramento, that kind of veteran presence would have made sense. For Westbrook, a former MVP and future Hall of Famer, it apparently wasn’t the right fit.
Now the Kings are left to keep searching. Westbrook would have given them a steady hand for Acuff Jr. and the rest of the young group, but that option is gone.
Victor Oladipo appears to be the likeliest name to watch, especially after he said, “I think there’s some interest there. And the feeling is mutual.”
👀NBA free agent Victor Oladipo shares that he’s had conversations this offseason with the Sacramento Kings. (via Yahoo Sports Daily) pic.twitter.com/OrrwJoi26E
Oladipo would bring experience and a mentor’s presence, though he has not played an NBA game since the 2022-23 season. If Sacramento wants more of a direct basketball boost, Gabe Vincent, Brandon Williams, and Bruce Brown are still out there.
There’s even a small possibility the Kings could take a look at Ben Simmons, who is trying to mount an NBA comeback after missing the entire 2025-26 season. If he’s healthy and more confident, he could end up being the strongest option of the bunch, but that feels unlikely.
However the Kings handle the rest of the roster, Westbrook’s decision makes one thing obvious: Sacramento wanted him back badly. The fit was there on paper, but the role wasn’t, and that was enough for him to shut the door.
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Kings May Revisit A Familiar Defensive Option For Darius Acuff Jr
The Kings already added Precious Achiuwa early in the 2025-26 season, giving the roster a physical defender who can help stabilize things around rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. Now theres another familiar name in the mix, with Sacramento reportedly exploring Victor Oladipo as a possible addition as he works his way back into the NBA after injuries. For a team looking for more toughness on that end of the floor, the idea fits the broader direction of the roster.
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Kings Just Got A Harsh Reminder About Their Biggest Question
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Darius Acuff Jr. is a big part of why that conversation feels more urgent now. The rookies strong standing among first-year players has already fed the idea that he could take on a major ballhandling load and help steady the offense in a way Kings fans remember from the De'Aaron Fox era, but the job description is still the real issue. Sacramento does not just need Acuff to be good, it needs him to be the kind of primary initiator who can change how the whole attack functions. [Read more 🡒]