Amidst all the talk of Bradley Beal and Malcolm Brogdon as potential Bucks targets, another big-name guard has been linked to Milwaukee. According to Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel, Russell Westbrook is a candidate to fill one of the team’s final roster spots.
With Kevin Porter Jr. agreeing to re-sign in the opening hours of free agency and Ryan Rollins re-upping on a $12m, three-year deal, the Bucks still have a need for added point-guard depth, especially of the veteran variety. At 36 years old and coming off his 17th season, Westbrook would likely command a veteran minimum deal similar to the one he signed with the Denver Nuggets last season. A much-maligned player in recent years, is bringing Westbrook to Milwaukee worth it?
The Upside
Few can fill up the stat sheet like Russ—even over the last two years in a mostly reserve role with the Clippers and Nuggets, he has averaged 12.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG in just 25.3 MPG. He’s also still very capable of explosive performances (see his 29, six, and six on 67% shooting in an early-season win over the Oklahoma City Thunder), and finished the 2024–25 season with 11 games of 20 or more points and 12 games of 10 or more assists. There is no doubt that Westbrook’s fearlessness, energy, and athleticism can positively impact a team. Long compared with Giannis for these qualities and their similarly relentless rim attacks, if you squint hard enough, you can see Westbrook as a placeholder for the Bucks, filling in for Giannis when he rests (especially with a return-to-point-Giannis seemingly on the cards). This would enable the team to run a similar style throughout games.
Pairing Westbrook with Rollins also fits on paper, considering Rollins’ ability to play off-ball, and enables the Bucks to have two ball-handlers on the court at all times, which the team desperately needs. Westbrook also deserves credit for the way he’s embraced changing roles over recent years, something a lot of former MVPs have struggled with.
The Downside
Despite his gaudy numbers, Westbrook’s flaws are glaring. He puts up points, but does so inefficiently. He racks up assists, but turns the ball over at a high rate. And that aforementioned fearlessness—which can still help you win a playoff game—too often hurts instead (his playoff field-goal shooting sits at a paltry 36% over the past two seasons).
Moreover, with Porter and Rollins set to man the point—and hopefully evolve into core pieces of the Bucks’ future—an ideal signing would be a high-IQ mentor who can help raise their games with the poise that is needed in a playoff setting. Unfortunately, despite all his experience and accolades, this isn’t Russ.
Final Decision
All things considered, Milwaukee would be wise to pass on a Russell Westbrook signing. Here’s hoping a Beal or Brogdon deal comes to fruition instead.
