Welp, it’s official. Former MVP Russell Westbrook is signing with the Sacramento Kings as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed but it’s likely to be for the veteran’s minimum. It also means someone on the current roster will need to be cut, although that’s probably solved by the Kings waiving Terence Davis as he is on an unguaranteed deal.
Look, Russell Westbrook is one of the biggest names and best players to ever suit up for the Sacramento Kings. By my count he’s the only former MVP to do so. He also has connections with several key Kings players, having played with Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schröder, and Malik Monk in the past. But this is also a horrific fit for a team that already has too many guards and too little spacing as is.
Westbrook joins a Kings roster that already features Dennis Schröder, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis in the backcourt, not to mention the youth of Devin Carter and Nique Clifford. He’s also a career 30.5% three point shooter joining a team that ranked in the bottom-third of three point makes and percentage last season. There’s a reason that the Kings will be Westbrook’s sixth team in six seasons. He’s a ball dominant, inefficient guard who is well past his prime. Does he play hard and offer some exciting highlights? Yes, he does, and there will be moments this season where Westbrook looks incredible and maybe helps the Kings win a game or two. But I’d be willing to bet there’s going to be far more situations where Westbrook’s presence actively hurts the team as he takes bad shots or tries to force situations that aren’t there.
What’s worse about this signing to me is how it speaks to the Kings mindset. This is once again a team chasing the middle of the road at the expense of the future. This has been the story of the Sacramento Kings for nearly 20 years now and time after time they refuse to learn their lesson. Ironically, the chase for the middle of the pack and fleeting success has continued to push the team further and further away from real growth and relevancy. What was just a few years ago a young and exciting team with a bright future is now a middling team featuring some of the oldest rotation players in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis might be the only sub-30 year old in the starting lineup come opening day (depending on who they have start for Keegan), and he turns 30 mid-season. It doesn’t take an expert NBA analyst to look at this team and the rest of the league and know that there isn’t the foundation of a future NBA champion here. These are the kinds of moves teams make when they think they’re only one or two pieces away, not chasing Play-In wins like the Kings seem to be.
Russell Westbrook is a fine player and a future hall of famer. But I struggle to see the benefit of adding him to this team when the team has so many other problems that he doesn’t fix.
AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Congrats Vivek
Vivek just can’t, or more likely won’t, get out of his own way.
“They ain’t like us!!!”
Will we hear a lot of Pink Floyd at Golden 1?
Vivek gets his guy and the fans get the middle finger as always.
He can’t help himself.
Sometimes, you choose to tank. The best I can hope for is that despite our best efforts, the tank chooses us so we can finally get a real future.
Can he play power forward?
His game is like that of a 6’4″ power forward.
I will likely enjoy watching Westbrook’s non-stop motor. I will likely not like watching Ellis waste away on the bench.
I will not take my frustrations over this team on Westbrook. I will take my frustrations out on the owner/front office that signed Westbrook.
I will not be surprised by any of the 46 losses this season. I will be surprised that an NBA franchise charts a path that lands them the 10-12 pick after missing the play-in.
I do not see this team succeeding at “94 feet!” I do see this team imploding at some point, with players becoming more concerned with “getting theirs” while the team’s best player (Sabonis) asks out.
I do not see myself spending one penny on this team this season. I do see myself watching the games on mute (and on the ipad, hoping that they look a little less worse on a smaller screen).
I am not committed or invested in this team. I am committed and invested in this community.
Hear hear.
Well said!
Yeah, it’s puzzling not because they signed Westbrook.
But if they knew they were signing Westbrook – and all accounts say this was in the works all off season – then why did the sign Dennis Schroder?
It’s the totality of moves that make no freaking sense, not any one move.
My guess is that they thought they could move Monk, but that did not come to fruition. Maybe bringing Russ in is a move for later in the season when they really try to move Monk and Carter?
Good stuff, Rob.
Yes, this!!!!!
It’s demoralizing how inept this franchise is.
I already bought my tickets and will sell as many as I can. There is talent on this team- looks good in fantasy just not on the court. There were no PF’s out there. They had promised RW a signing. They still want to move guards but no decent trades out there. I wish Jack was the GM for another team, Kings could get anybody for nobody. i.e. 2 second round picks for Tari Eason!
I suspect movement at trade deadline. If the 2 players worth keeping were Keegan and Keon, then this week was terrible for that idea.
DC got his son in law back (DeQuan)
My thoughts on replacing Keegan: start Saric, for about 10 minutes then scramble the game with one of the two rookies and then go small for as long as possible.
This team is going to be terrible defensively.
At deadline, with a 4-20 record, fire sale and head for the deep lottery.
SO.MANY.
ALL.OLD.STARSIf they would have just signed Russ on a vet minimum instead of going after Schroder, and then used the money/assets to get a SF/PF to pair with Keegan, then fine. But getting both Russ and Dennis, while retaining Monk, Ellis, Carter, drafting Nique…
But he rebounds like a forward.. does that count t LOL..
Is he our new 4.. it’s gonna be so exciting to LaVine, Westbrook,DDR pounding the rock for 20 seconds to take a mid range shot..
Can’t the NBA step in and force vivek to step aside?
Can’t some of the minority owners join forces and force vivek out?
Don’t we fans deserve competence?
Most likely won’t happen without outside pressure, but it’s a nice fantasy to cling to.
Fans deserve better but Stern isn’t walking thru that door and Silver is afraid too .
And if not competence, then how about compensation?
Can’t wait to see how we look against the rest of the league!
ALL YOUR GUARDS ARE BELONG TO US!
FWIW: Even though basketball-ref lists him as a SG, they show 61% of his playing time at SF and another 20% at PF.
Could be. He’s still only 6’5.
That is a decent 3-4 height…for Stockton.
And I think(?) that he is Christie’s son-in-law? So very much an on-brand acquisition for this org.
Just keep Anjali away from him!
No Chance!
you have to take your chance(s)
I don’t think he has a record so he’s probably safe
LOL, you’re right!
This is pathethic.
Are these Vivek’s attempts at beloning with under the table “Aspiration”-machinations?
Not even understanding that a coach’s salary has no effect on the cap?
Yup. He is married to Doug’s daughter, Chantel.
I’m sure that’s just coincidence, right…..right…..RIGHT?
Maybe he’ll turn into another PJ Tucker?
Fans are no longer volunteers but now hostages . Need NBA intervention for release .
In the owner and FO minds, they are saying that the Kings starting 5 has 4 all-stars(former) and the current euroleague MVP. That will be the propaganda push.
Give them another CHANCE. The CHOKING has to end sometime amirite?
Is Vivek the most cringe owner in the NBA?
Might be all of sports if Jerry Jones didn’t exist.
He’s neck and neck with Dolan for the Sterling Trophy.
Suffocating
Dolan might be an a-hole, but I think Vivek is trying to hang on to some weird ploy of being “hip” and “in-touch” with the yutes of the world.
“Did you say ‘yutes’?”
“Yes, two yutes”
“What is a yute?”
No. That would be Mark Davis’s haircut.
Hey Terzo…stick a fork in it for making me watch this abomination again. ROFLMAO
I believe this is *exactly* how Vivek thinks. Big names = putting butts in seats.
The thing that sucks is, at least in Sacramento, he’s probably right.
With Westie and Monk we might make the “player’s fashion as they enter the arena” Playoffs!
Love the Breaking News banner!
I love it. Exposes the s**t show even more.
blob:https://kingsherald.com/1c7f0d10-1699-4c26-995a-355ed3a3b89e
Blob? For a while there, i thought the Kings had signed Jason Thompson again. Phewww!
Cold World
We have a new undersized wing! Dequan Jeffries! Woohoo
Wutthephuck?
Seriously, what needs to happen is the fan base needs to stop buying tickets to this shit show. Caveat Emptor.
Adding Westbrook is a method to get the casuals to buy tickets, and it will work. Vivek is selling snake oil.
Big names = butts in seats = profit.
This team is older than dirt now.
BREAKING: Kings announce new jersey sponsorship with AARP.
Vlade: “It’s a super team, just young.”
Vivek: “Hold my Ensure shake.”
BREAKING: Kings announce new arena naming rights deal with Depend™. Kings fans think it’s a shitty idea.
BREAKING: In new a compliance requirement with ADA, the Kings to add additional wheel chair access seating in Depend™ Arena. They are to be courtside…on the bench.
BREAKING: Sabonis breaks pinky finger while helping install new wheelchair seating courtside at Depend™ Arena. Kings to sign Allen Iverson.
Put the sprinklers on. Adamsite is on fire!
Watch out below!
When asked how he plans to integrate Westbrook and Iverson into the rotation Coach Christe responded, “It well Depend™ on the nightly matchup. When teams go small I can guarantee you we will go smaller to Ensure™ victory.”
Serious question. Is there any Kangz thing this team could do that would surprise you anymore. LPA and I have been actively following the Kings since they moved to Sacramento despite moving halfway across the country and now living in Utah for the last 20+ years. I am a Kings fan, an A’s fan, and a Raiders fan. (The trifecta of disappointment.) So, I’ve been through a lot of down years and a few good years.
But honestly at this point, I have zero hope that the Kings will ever be a quality team in my lifetime. Not like a Championship contender. But even just a well-run team that can make the playoffs semi-regularly. I mean we weren’t the best with Fox as our number one player. But we were at least likeable and entertaining much of the time. My oldest grandson wore his shoes. We were happy to turn on games.
But right now I look at this team, and honestly I’m less excited about watching their games than I was about the “Welcome to Basketball Hell” teams. There just doesn’t feel like there’s anything to root for. And Westbrook fits in perfectly with that. I don’t even care enough to be mad that he’ll take our young guys’ minutes.
Famous last words, SB.
Vivek now will fire DC and join the team as player-coach. He will demand a push-up context against those who’ll argue that it’s not allowed under league rules.
FO meeting in progress:
Vivek: Maybe we messed up with Fox, but didn’t he openly say that he modeled his game after Westbrook? If so, i have the best idea! I’m just going to get Westbrook. Ha! Screw you Swipa!
Rest of FO: GREAT SUCCESS!
I think we are just weeks away from hiring a Fox News anchor to be “Associate” GM.
The Sacramento Walking-Kanes
Monk and Carter for Kuzma would be so on brand for the Kings.
What really bums me out about this is that the Kings have officially put the development of Keon, Carter and even Nique on the back burner. There was going to be limited minutes from the as it was, now I expect quite a few DNP/CD for them. Dennis, LaVine, Monk and Westbrook are going to eat up all the guard minutes. What a piss poor decision on prospect development.
In yesterday’s THK podcast with Jerry Reynolds, he mentioned how the Kings just have to find a way for Keon to get 30 minutes a night. That’s not going to happen now, which means Keon’s future in Sac is in serious doubt.
I think the FO doesn’t value Keon very highly anyhow. I suspect he is gone soon.
Keon is likely gone after this season. Dude definitely deserves to be with a competent organization to put his skills to use, as much as I want him to stay here.
It’s coming….
Kings fan: “The franchise culture stinks.”
Midseason Russell Westbrook: “The franchise culture stinks.”
Also Kings fan: “Run his ungrateful ass out of here.”
I’m so here for another clown show season. It’s the only way for me to survive.
Its coming this Feb!
Sabonis plus Keegan for Embid. ESPN trade machine approved!
Would we be better off with Westbrook/Jonas or DS/Westbrook?
Westbrook and Jonas. Not only would have been far cheaper, it means no Eubanks and Saric. Westbrook and Dennis are on about the same tier in talent, IMO. One would be fine, both is nonsense.
Who know what the Kings could have done with more space under the tax and a few additional open roster spots. Could they have convinced LaRavia to stay? Re-sign Lyles?
I think they thought moving Monk was going to happen, then they would bring in Russ. Monk wasn’t moved, but they bring in Russ anyway. This roster is odd, makes no sense in the modern NBA, and I expect them to be a mess on the court and in the locker room.
No way Keon gets the minutes the Kings needs him to get. Nique is now the primary backup SF (?), which probably isn’t good for him developing. Carter wasn’t going to get many minutes anyway, but they could have tried developing him.
I just disagree with almost everything this front office/owner has done over the past couple years (aside from bringing in LaRavia and JV)
They couldn’t have offered anything more to LaRavia—except perhaps something “Aspiration”-al.
Yeah, Kings could only pay him $5.1M but he took just $6M to go to LA where he’s going to compete for minutes with Vanderbilt and Knecht off the bench. Would he have taken a little less but with an increased role in Sac? Who knows.
What I do know is the Kings decided to eat up some of that available cap and roster space for McDermott. Sure would have been nice to have LaRavia at $5.1M as the backup 3/4 inseat of McDermott and Saric for a combined $7.6M
More years was possible
Vivek clearly didn’t think this through. Monk wears #0 and #4 is in the rafters. What is Westbrook going to wear?
I guess we need to unretire Willie Cauly-Stein’s number!
I absolutely hate this team that I love so much…
I cannot fucking believe this shit. I relocated to Sac for personal reasons driving 2,100 miles. Not even 3 days in Sac and this shit happens.
Worst off season ever. It’s not even close and Perry is compromised. These moves are not the moves Perry did with the Knicks where he at least got them to a rebuild position. This is truly a season of Hell. So why even draft Clifford with this amount of guards? How can you even develop him?
The roster made no sense before Dennis and Russ and it sure as hell makes no sense with them on it now.
Just what the fuck are they doing? The Sac media, DLO KC hyping this move up, all these pundits trying to garner excitement. What in the FUCK is wrong with this organization and media coverage?
I cannot tolerate this anymore. It’s like they are trying to anger me every chance they get. The only positive was drafting Reynaud. Everything else has been a total failure. I cannot think of any other incident where a team had a worse and more wasted offseason than this. If you thought last season was bad because of their refusal to tank, prepare for this pathetic play in push 2.0 bitch slap just so Vivek can wave his disgusting finger and say “We have a post season streak going on. We are at least extending Kings basketball. That is better than previously where we had a drought.”
I am officially a villain. I hope this team loses to everyone they face. I hope the team quits. I hope they endure failure after failure because this is pathetic. Fans deserve better. The fans save this team and we get a clown show in return. This madness needs to stop!
Leon Rose rebuilt and runs Knicks basketball . Perry was just a leftover from the Steve Mills bball ops group . Rose kept Perry and two others for his front office.
I cut-pasted the banner text into the 1140 Youtube chat and Whitey read it on air. They all laughed
This is the way.
Naw. 1320 is the way! lol
The lord’s work, you’re doing it amigo.
Dennis, Russ, DDR and Lavine on the floor at the same time will be comedic gold.
Perhaps the Russ signing is a stealth tank job. But we know the Kangz aren’t smart enough to do that.
”stealth tank”—so Russ will be a Transformer?
This team…..I just can’t anymore this season.
Are we really going to have this many guards this year?
I’m just sad. Not even angry, not upset. Ambivalent even. Another wasted year.
How about a devil’s advocate POV? They get Russ, he overperforms, and they end up trading him to a contender by Feb? Heck, maybe package him with Monk and a few 2nd rounders for…another…guard? Oh shit
Yes but have you thought about all the badges our young players can earn through mentorship in 2K26?
NOBODY: SIGN HIM
KANGZ: START HIM
Shaqtin a fool here we come! Westbrook and Schroeder always making bonehead plays watch… probably LaVine too wow…roster is soft and doesn’t know how to play team ball on either end. Not just losing but losing ugly this year. That’s the problem, owner selling entertainment rather than substance and winning basketball.
Of course you’ll see the typical bloggers searching for thumbs up bandwagon comments. The one who will get the most will be a 5’ 6” professional regurgitator with no athletic ability who has never played an ounce of basketball beyond third grade or has the credentials to be an assistant for a 4th grade CYO team. For those questioning this move, look what this guy did for the Washington Wizards not so long ago.
This has never been the path I recommended for the Kings even when they were riding high two seasons ago. It was a sugar high approach that was heading for an iceberg which it eventually hit head on. So here we are now with a management team living in blissful ignorance thinking they really do have a chance for relevancy. With all that being true, to say this is not a reasonable gamble is just being dumb headed. I respect Russell Westbrook so much as an athlete and competitor. He gives maximum effort every time he sets foot on a basketball court and NEVER cheats the fans. Good signing given the circumstances and I’ll enjoy watching Russ play as always.
Nobody is really questioning whether Westbrook makes the Kings better than they were – that’s clearly true. The problem is if Westbrook was available for the vet minimum, why the fuck was Perry signing Dennis to $14M per year on a 2/1 and why sign Westbrook when we’re down a starting PF/SF.
Need a PG? Westbrook is great stopgap choice.
Need a PF? Westbrook makes no sense whatsoever.
That’s a fair point but to disparage a hall of famer like Westbrook like a bunch of sheep is idiotic. I suspect at their ages, 20-25 minutes a game is about all they should play. I haven’t seen anything from Carter that makes me believe he’s a NBA talent.
As far as getting a power forward, I really don’t know what that is anymore.
Lastly, signing Westbrook to veteran minimum given all the questionable moves this franchise has made is nothing to get worked up about.
Haven’t checked Tankathon this early in a long time.
Badge Legend