Could the Charlotte Hornets make some sense in NBA free agency for veteran guard Russell Westbrook?
The Charlotte Hornets have had a busy NBA offseason. Of course, the headline move for the franchise was the blockbuster trade that sent star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ball, who was the face of the franchise since being drafted back in the 2020 NBA Draft, was traded to the Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033. Josh Green was also traded to Minnesota along with Ball.
Outside of that move, the Hornets traded Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and draft capital. They also acquired Dorian Finney-Smith from the Houston Rockets for three second-round picks and cash.
In free agency, Charlotte was able to re-sign guard Coby White to a three-year, $74 million deal.
With the NBA offseason moving quickly, the Hornets could be a team to watch for another move or two. Adding more guard depth could make sense for the team after trading Ball.
Could Russell Westbrook make sense as a possible target for Charlotte?
Westbrook is coming off of a strong season in 2025-26 with the Sacramento Kings. He ended up playing in 64 games and making 58 starts, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. Westbrook shot 42.7 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from three-point range.
At 37 years old, Westbrook would be a short-term addition for the Hornets. More than likely, he will end up getting a one-year deal from the team that signs him.
Even though Westbrook is no longer the star that he once was earlier in his NBA career, he's still a quality player. In a backup role behind White, he could provide great minutes and high-level production within the second unit.
Currently, Charlotte is projected to have Tre Mann and rookie Christian Anderson Jr. as backup point guard options behind White. Westbrook would be an upgrade over those two players for the 2026-27 season.
If the Hornets are serious about being a contender in the Eastern Conference this season, Westbrook would be worth taking a look at. He wouldn't be asked to handle a huge workload, but he could provide more scoring and playmaking off of the bench.
On a one-year deal, there would be very little downside to a deal with Westbrook. If things didn't work out, the Hornets could simply cut him or try to trade him before the deadline.
While it's unlikely that Charlotte will end up signing Westbrook, it's an option worth considering.
