NBA analyst makes case for former Nugget Russell Westbrook as free agent target
Over the past few weeks, the Nuggets have transformed their roster as they look to make some noise in a tougher Western Conference next season. After taking the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games last season, the Nuggets clearly believe they aren't far away from making another title run of their own.
With Nikola Jokic running the show, the Nuggets will always be capable of making some postseason noise when healthy. Of course, the Nuggets' run to the second round last season wasn't always fueled by their stars.
Russell Westbrook was a key part of Denver's success in 2025, even becoming a playoff hero for the franchise. After declining his player option to enter free agency, Westbrook is still looking for his next home.
While Denver has made some solid moves, such as adding Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes explained why Westbrook still has some value. Hughes noted that the former MVP has transitioned into one of the league's premier sixth men and still has the ability to take over games despite going into his 18th season.
Considering all of the value Westbrook brought to Denver last season, the Nuggets could be making a mistake in letting him walk. By energizing the team on sluggish nights and consistently getting the crowd into games, Westbrook always added a spark that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.
Still, as Westbrook looks for a new home, there is no doubt that he can still be a valuable piece of a winning team.
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