After landing with the Utah Jazz following the 2023 trade deadline, it’s expected that Russell Westbrook will be bought out of his current contract and set to become a free agent. The Chicago Bulls shouldn’t sign the former MVP despite putting their hat in the ring.
Russell Westbrook is linked to the Bulls, Miami Heat, and LA Clippers according to Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN and it’s looking like each of those teams has a strong case. At this point, even the Jazz might end up with Westbrook on their team, despite heated moments between Brodie and the Utah crowd in the past.
Head coach Billy Donovan spoke highly of his former player after a loss against the Orlando Magic, saying that he has unbelievable respect for Westbrook:
"“Whenever there was a game, you knew [Russell Westbrook] was always ready to play. He’s a great competitor, and he loves competing. He plays with great energy and great passion.”"
That might be the case in past seasons, especially the final few with the OKC Thunder when Russell was much more athletic and was the focal point of his team’s offense. This season, Westbrook is hardly an efficient player and the LA Lakers should be over the moon to move on from the experience.
On the season, Westbrook is averaging 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while coming off the bench in 49 of his 52 games for the Lakers. He’s shooting 42 percent from the floor and 30 percent from behind the arc while only getting to the rim for 4.6 free throws a night, the lowest mark of his career.
If the Chicago Bulls decide the fix their struggling season with a Westbrook signing, it’d be an abject failure. Here are three reasons why Arturas Karnisovas and Mark Eversley shouldn’t make a move for the aging guard.