Sacramento Kings Could Form A Powerful Backcourt With Russell Westbrook And Zach LaVine
The NBA offseason has only just begun, and the Sacramento Kings have some big improvement plans. In the aftermath of some major trades, the Kings are in need of a point guard, and recent reports from within the organization claim that they could look to Russell Westbrook to fill the void.
'Fellow free agents Tyus Jones and Russell Westbrook are also known to be options that the Kings are considering," wrote Sam Amick of The Athletic. "Free agency formally begins at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday. Beyond the point guard vacancy, though, league sources say the Kings are open for business when it comes to discussing the various possibilities with their roster.'
The Kings are still trying to find their way after a series of disappointing seasons. Despite their initial success with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, they failed to make a long playoff run, and the team decided to wipe the slate clean by trading Fox and parting ways with their longtime coach, Mike Brown.
Going into next season, the Kings are hoping to be competitive with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, but they'll need a proper point guard to keep up with the steep competition. In a somewhat weak free agency, options are limited for the Kings, but Russell Westbrook is not only an affordable option, but he has the potential to raise their ceiling.
The 9x All-Star is a future Hall of Famer with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game on 443.9% shooting. As a 2x scoring leader, 9x All-NBA player, and former MVP, Westbrook has proven himself as one of the elite superstars, but his decline over the years has been swift.
Ever since leaving the Thunder in 2019, Westbrook has been on a downward spiral that includes failed stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, and Clippers. In his latest stop, the Nuggets, the entire front office split over his role in Michael Malone's rotation.
Now, Russ is set to decline his $3.5 million player option and join the 2025 free agency class at 36 years old. At this stage of his career, Westbrook's future is still uncertain, but the Kings believe he can help them win games next season. After averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign, Russ has something left in the tank, and his impact on the floor is still felt after 17 years in the NBA.
While he may not be what he once was, Westbrook's skills as a scorer, ball handler, and playmaker should make him a fine addition to the Kings. At the very least, he'll make them relevant in the West in a lineup with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis.
After finishing ninth in the standings this past season, Sacramento needs a spark, and Westbrook can bring that and more with his status as a leader, veteran, and ultimate competitor. While he's expected to have multiple suitors this summer, Westbrook will have direct control over this next landing spot, and there's a lot to be gained from joining the Kings, where he could potentially start on a competitive team.This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Doyle hits walkoff homer in 9th, Rockies overcome 9-run 1st-inning deficit to beat Pirates 17-16
DENVER (AP) — Brenton Doyle hit a walkoff, two-run homer in a five-run ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies overcame a nine-run first-inning deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-16 on Friday night. The Rockies are the sixth team in major league history to win after surrendering nine first-inning runs according to Elias Sports Bureau. Cleveland was the last to do it in 2006. Colorado trailed 16-12 before rallying off Dennis Santana (3-3). Hunter Goodman hit his 20th homer with one out. Jordan Beck walked and scored on rookie Warming Bernabel's first triple. Thairo Estrada had an RBI single, and Doyle hit his eighth home run with one out to win it. Bernabel went 4 for 6 and hit his third homer for the Rockies — a three-run shot in the third to cut it to 9-4. Ezequiel Tovar went 4 for 6 and tied a major league record with four doubles. Doyle also finished with four of Colorado's 22 hits. Rookie Yanquiel Fernández hit his first homer — a two-run shot off Yohan Ramírez in the eighth to get the Rockies within four. Oneil Cruz hit his 18th homer and second career grand slam and Andrew McCutchen added a three-run shot — his 11th — off Antonio Senzatela as the Pirates became just the second team in 132 years to score nine-plus runs in the first inning on 10-plus hits that included a slam and a three-run homer. Cincinnati did it against the Louisville Colonels on June 18, 1893. McCutchen finished 3 for 5 with five RBIs. Reynolds had three of Pittsburgh's 18 hits and singled from both sides of the plate in the first — the first Pirate to do so since Neil Walker in 2015, also in Denver. Nick Gonzales finished 4 for 6 and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits and three RBIs. Andrew Heaney lasted just 3 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh, allowing four runs — three earned — on seven hits. Rookie Dugan Darnell (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for his first win. Key moment McCutchen's homer moved him past Bill Mazeroski into sixth place on the Pirates' RBIs list with 857. Key stat Colorado is the third team in the divisional era (since 1969) to win after trailing by nine runs. Up next Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-8, 1.83 ERA) was set to start Saturday opposite Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-5, 6.28). ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Langeliers hits 2-run HR as A's score 4 in 1st inning, beat Diamondbacks 5-1
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer in a four-run first inning and the Athletics beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Friday night. Brent Rooker had a sacrifice fly, Langeliers followed with his 19th home run and Carlos Cortez added a two-out RBI single as the A's built a 4-0 lead against Anthony DeSclafani. Rooker singled and scored on Tyler Soderstrom's second double of the game to make it 5-0 in the fourth. Jacob Lopez (4-6) gave up five hits in five scoreless innings for the Athletics, who have won three straight and seven of their last eight. Luis Morales allowed a run in two innings in his major league debut. Elvis Alvarado and Sean Newcomb each pitched a scoreless inning to close it out. Langeliers led the way with three of the Athletics' 11 hits. Corbin Carroll's sacrifice fly drove in Jose Herrera, who singled before advancing to third on Ketel Marte's ground-rule double in the seventh to get Arizona on the scoreboard. DeSclafani (1-2) gave up four runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings in his second start. Jake Woodford allowed one run and five hits in 2 1/3 innings as the Diamondbacks lost their sixth straight. Key moment Langeliers hit the first pitch he saw from DeSclafani 376 feet out to left at 100.4 mph. Key stat Arizona's 4.59 ERA is 25th out of 30 teams while the Athletics' 5.03 is 28th. Up next Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (7-12, 5.60 ERA) starts Saturday opposite Athletics RHP J.T. Ginn (2-2, 3.89). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Benintendi, Sosa each hit a HR as White Sox beat Angels 6-3
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi had a double and a home run, Lenyn Sosa also homered among his two hits, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 on Friday night. White Sox starter Shane Smith gave up two runs and two hits while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings in his first start since July 11 following a stint on the 15-day IL. Jordan Leasure (4-6) earned the win in relief, striking out four in 1 2/3 innings. Benintendi and Sosa each hit solo home runs in the second inning off Angels starter Tyler Anderson (2-7), and Luis Robert Jr. had a sacrifice fly drove Miguel Vargas home in the fourth inning to make it 3-0. Gustavo Campero's second home run of the year, a two-run blast to deep center field in the fifth, got the Angels within one, but Colson Montgomery answered with a deep homer of his own in the sixth inning. Logan O'Hoppe scored on Zach Neto's sacrifice fly to bring the Angels within one again, and Nolan Schanuel appeared to drive in Travis D'Arnaud with a two-out single, but Campero was thrown out at third prior to D'Arnaud crossing the plate. Sosa had an RBI single in the eighth and Josh Rojas added a solo homer in the ninth. Steven Wilson got the last six outs for his second save of the year. Key moment Campero's baserunning error prevented the game-tying run from scoring in the seventh, ending what was a bases-loaded, one-out threat for the Angels. Key stat Montgomery continued his second-half tear with a solo home run, which represented his 18th RBI since the All-Star break. He is now tied with Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber for the most RBIs since the break. Up next White Sox RHP Aaron Civale (2-6, 4.38 ERA) starts opposite Angels RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-7, 4.73). ___ AP MLB:
