The Milwaukee Bucks are thin on backcourt after waiving Damian Lillard and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract to land Myles Turner in free agency.
They have tried to address their point guard situation by re-signing Ryan Rollins and getting Cole Anthony from the buyout market. But both guards are unproven playoff performers.
The Bucks could find a more experienced point guard in the market
Former MVP Russell Westbrook could answer their pressing needs.
The Bucks have emerged as among the betting favorites to land Westbrook, who has remained unsigned after he declined his $3.5 million player option to return to Denver.
Offshore sportsbook Bovada has the Bucks to have the third-best odds to sign Westbrook at 500 behind the New York Knicks (-250) and the Sacramento Kings (+350)
Rounding up the betting list are the Miami Heat (+600), Dallas Mavericks (+800), New Orleans Pelicans (+900) and Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000).
Russell Westbrook’s Potential Fit
GettyRussell Westbrook formerly of the Denver Nuggets psyches himself up before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The nine-time All-NBA point guard played a key role for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists against 3.2 turnovers in 75 games. In Denver, the 2017 NBA MVP split his time between the Nuggets’ bench and starting unit.
At this stage of his career, Westbrook is looking to join a title contender as a ring-chasing veteran. With injuries to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it has ever been in recent years.
The Turner-Giannis Antetokounmpo combo makes the Bucks a strong contender to make a deep run if they remain healthy.
Westbrook can come in and organize the Bucks’ offense with Lillard now gone.
But spacing issues may prevent this from pairing Westbrook with another non-shooting star in Antetokounmpo in today’s NBA.
Westbrook plays like a mini-version of Antetokounmpo, which can also attract the Bucks to have him as a spark plug of the Bucks’ offense when the two-time MVP is on the bench.
Is Malcolm Brogdon a Better Option for Bucks?
Another free agent option for the Bucks is a reunion with their former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Bucks are one of the eight teams that have expressed interest in Brogdon.
“League sources say that the Wizards are open to sign-and-trade discussions to facilitate Brogdon’s exit and a slew of teams have registered varying levels of interest in the 32-year-old. That list includes the Clippers, Suns and Lakers as well as the Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings and Bucks,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter on July 7.
Brogdon was selected by the Bucks in 2016 with the 36th overall pick. He won Rookie of the Year after playing in a career-high 75 games while averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists and a career-best 1.1 steals.
However, injuries derailed Brogdon’s career. After his third season, the Bucks did not match the Indiana Pacers’ four-year, $85 million deal offer and decided to part ways with him via sign-and-trade in exchange for future picks, which they eventually used to land Jrue Holiday later on, which led to their 2021 championship run.
Westbrook has been more durable than Brogdon. But the former Buck is a better defender than Westbrook.
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