As a deal to get one Sacramento Kings star fails to materialize, the team are exploring different ways to sign Russell Westbrook.
The Sacramento Kings are trying their best to move on from what proved to be a tumultuous 2024-25 NBA season.
After firing head coach Mike Brown and then trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs within a matter of months, the Kings find themselves in quite a difficult position.
This offseason, the front office wanted to inject some fiery youth into their team, which is why the Kings have relentlessly targeted Jonathan Kuminga.
While the Kings have failed to land Kuminga so far, they have also struggled to complete the signing of Russell Westbrook. The Kings have wanted Westbrook for quite some time now.
Sacramento Kings trying to sign Russell Westbrook without trading Malik Monk
According to Marc Stein, the Sacramento Kings have given up on finding a suitable trade for Malik Monk, after months of failed negotiations with different teams.
He added that the arrival of Russell Westbrook, a long-time Kings target, is now being considered without trading Malik Monk to make cap space.
“After Sacramento explored various trade scenarios earlier this summer involving Malik Monk, league sources say that the Kings are not actively engaged in such trade talks now.
“The Kings have maintained an interest in unsigned free agent Russell Westbrook, sources say.
“But I’m told that they have indeed explored the possibility of creating a backcourt opening for Westbrook by other means rather than dealing Monk.”
The Kings being able to sign Westbrook without giving up Monk would definitely help the former MVP. Monk is a former teammate of Westbrook’s from their time together on the Lakers.
Having that familiarity can make Westbrook’s acclimation to the Kings a much easier experience.
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Golden State Warriors playing hardball over Jonathan Kuminga
For the Kings, their initial plan would have been to trade Malik Monk as part of the sign-and-trade package for Jonathan Kuminga.
As such, in their eyes, Westbrook’s arrival depended on the Kuminga trade. However, what the Kings didn’t account for was how difficult the Golden State Warriors were going to make a potential deal.
The Warriors have said no to trading multiple players to make the money work in a sign-and-trade deal. And unless something major happens, it’s hard to see them changing their minds on the matter.
This is why executives around the league won’t be surprised if Russell Westbrook isn’t signed before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Hopefully, for the sake of the players, all parties can come to an agreement that gets everyone what they want.
It is hard to justify talented players like Russell Westbrook and Jonathan Kuminga missing out on a chance to play high-level basketball.
