The Brooklyn Nets have a lot to be proud of after their 2022-23 campaign ended in a first-round sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the sweep and losing superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets were able to recover nicely and now have some nice players and draft assets to go in any direction they want.
With that being said, as this offseason goes on, there will be decisions made that will alter the trajectory of the franchise. Some of the most important matters are Cam Johnson’s restricted free agency, what the team wants to do with injured star Ben Simmons, and if they should go star-hunting for someone like Damian Lillard.
According to Bleacher Report, if Lillard stays in Portland and the star-hunting does not go as planned, it is possible that Brooklyn could turn to a guard that would be cheaper: Russell Westbrook. While Westbrook doesn’t have the MVP star power that he used to have a few seasons ago, he proved that he can still play during his brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Assuming that the Clippers will not be able to offer Westbrook enough money to come back, he will be looking at the teams in the league that can offer him the money that he deserves. Time will tell how much money Brooklyn could spend on someone like Westbrook, but he could be an option per B/R:
“But the Clippers don’t have Westbrook’s rights. They are capable of paying him just 120 percent above the minimum. Given LA’s massive payroll and incoming rule changes, the team won’t have its taxpayer mid-level exception ($5 million starting salary). Westbrook could re-sign and wait a year for early Bird rights that could pay in the $12 million range in 2024.
Instead, look for Westbrook to seek an opportunity elsewhere on a team with cap space or a non-taxpayer mid-level exception (roughly $12.2 million). The Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets may have that kind of money. The cap-space teams may not be as likely to target the 34-year-old guard.”
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Story originally appeared on Nets Wire