It seems that the Utah Jazz buying out the final months of Russell Westbrook’s contract and letting him hit the free-agent market is not the foregone conclusion that some originally thought.
A report suggests that there is a real chance Westbrook could finish out the last few months of his contract as a member of the Utah Jazz.
The Athletic’s NBA insider Tony Jones reported that the Utah Jazz and Westbrook have “have met and had multiple productive discussions surrounding his impending future as a member of the Jazz organization.” In those conversations, the nine-time All-Star has expressed a “willingness” to stay in Utah for the rest of the season.
“We are open to every possibility,” Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said, via Jones.
It is a surprising development for two reasons. Firstly, because several playoff contenders — including the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers — have serious interest in acquiring Westbrook and giving him notable playing time.
Secondly, The Athletic revealed that the Jazz have been transparent with Westbrook about plans to play younger players on the roster and not guaranteeing that the future Hall of Famer will see a lot of playing time for the rest of the season.
Staying in Utah has pros and cons for Westbrook. In playing less, he could avoid any injuries before trying for one last big contract in NBA free agency this summer. However, after a down year last season and then a bench role in 2022-23, Westbrook does need to improve his value if he hopes to land a sizable deal on the market.
