The Washington Wizards have one roster spot left, and Russell Westbrook is no longer part of the conversation.
Westbrook’s sudden retirement has changed the look of Washington’s late-summer planning, cutting off a comeback idea that had been floating around for a while. The former fan favorite was reportedly in the mix for a return to D.C., but he ended the free-agency wait on his own terms by stepping away after 18 seasons in the league.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end.You had to be there. And now it’s over. pic.twitter.com/6YoOW8WyIV”
The move landed hard around the NBA because it came so abruptly. Westbrook had just wrapped up a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings, where he averaged 15 points per game in 29 minutes across 64 appearances. Now the former MVP is headed toward the Hall of Fame instead of another stop on the map.
For Washington, the retirement leaves behind a simple reality: the team still wants to keep building out the back end of the roster, but one of its most recognizable veteran options is gone. Westbrook made sense on paper as a source of backcourt help and leadership, even if his career-long challenge with playing off the ball made him an imperfect fit for a bench role.
Still, the Wizards had reasons to like the idea. Westbrook’s energy and competitiveness have long resonated in Washington, especially after he helped push the team to the 2021 playoffs as the No. 8 seed while piling up another triple-double season.
Anthony Gill remains the most familiar name in the mix as a possible return to the only locker room he has known over the last six seasons. Beyond him, Washington is still weighing other veteran options to fill out the depth chart.
DeMar DeRozan has also been connected to the Wizards because of his veteran scoring punch, but his style is a different kind of fit. Unlike Westbrook, DeRozan is far more focused on getting his own shot, which doesn’t line up especially well with a roster full of developmental wings who need the ball.
Other names still in circulation include Aaron Holiday, Gabe Vincent and Brandon Williams. With Westbrook now out of the picture, each of those options stands to draw a little more attention as Washington continues sorting out the final pieces of its offseason.
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