One expert believes the Milwaukee Bucks might benefit from signing a “deeply flawed” a very available future Hall of Famer as NBA free agency winds down.
The Bucks technically have all 15 of their standard roster spots (and all three of their two-way slots) occupied, but guard Andre Jackson Jr.’s partially guaranteed deal doesn’t become fully guaranteed until the start of the regular season, so ostensibly if Milwaukee finds a veteran to sign the team could waive Jackson.
One such player is generally ranked among the best players in league history — although he is far past his prime, and his weaknesses have become more pronounced as he’s aged.
Michael Pina of The Ringer submits that well-traveled former 2017 MVP point guard Russell Westbrook, who declined his player option for the 2025-26 season with the Denver Nuggets to enter free agency, could be an intriguing fit for the Bucks — despite being, per Pina, “deeply flawed.”
wrote about 5 unrestricted free agents who still don’t have a home, and tried to find a good fit for each one (if such a thing exists) https://t.co/Hv9nSpSf3C
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) July 29, 2025
Pina notes that, given Westbrook’s glaring issues and age (he’ll be 37 in November), he’s an awkward fit on both title hopefuls and youth-oriented rebuilds. Instead, he could be a floor-raiser on a team that needs backcourt help.
“Westbrook is quite clearly a poor fit for a playoff team in just about every context, and he’d have no purpose on a tanking loser that would rather develop someone 15 years younger,” Pina notes. “That leaves teams somewhere in the middle.”
After losing nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to an Achilles tendon tear in the playoffs, Bucks general manager Jon Horst opted to stretch-and-waive Lillard’s contract to bring in a new piece — former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
The Bucks could use all the guard help they can get, around re-signed probable starters Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. Milwaukee also brought in former Orlando Magic guards Cole Anthony and Gary Harris, and re-signed Ryan Rollins.
Westbrook, despite his flaws, is a high-energy athlete and a gifted passer and rebounder.
“Maybe the Milwaukee Bucks, a club stumbling through its 11th hour and in real need of another ball handler not named Kevin Porter Jr.?” Pina wonders. “Westbrook clearly wouldn’t accentuate Giannis Antetokounmpo in the half court, but Milwaukee could use someone who puts pressure on the rim when he’s out of the game.”
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