Return to the Thunder? Where will the next stop at 37-year-old Westbrook?

The free market has been open for nearly a month, and Westbrook has not found a next home, and the current situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for him. There are fewer and fewer potential team choices, and Westbrook's future is full of uncertainty.

Recently, it was reported that the King showed interest in Westbrook and Simmons. It is said that Kings general manager Scott Perry is very optimistic about Westbrook's ability. However, the Kings' backcourt lineup is already quite crowded, not only Laven, Monk, Ellis and others, but they also signed Schroeder in the offseason, which makes Westbrook's chances of joining the Kings have become slim.

Look at the current free market situation:

- The Nuggets have signed Brown, and Westbrook is almost impossible to return to the Nuggets after he jumped out of the contract, and he has even cancelled the Nuggets on social media.

- The Bucks were originally interested in Westbrook, but they eventually signed Cole Anthony.

- The Knicks also had rumors of contacting Westbrook, but according to the team reporter, Westbrook is not suitable for the Knicks' system, mainly because he is unwilling to serve as a substitute, and the rumors ended there.

- The Clippers signed Paul and Bill, and Westbrook's chances were further squeezed.

- Currently, Brogden and Simmons have become free agents in the point guard market.

- The Pacers may need a point guard, and Westbrook and Brogdon may be rumored to be either. Considering that Brogden played for the Pacers and did not perform badly, the Pacers are likely to prioritize him.

A reporter said that Westbrook's choices are getting fewer and fewer, and it is not even ruled out that the Pistons will become his new owner. Despite this, objectively speaking, Westbrook's condition remains at a certain level, and his game is still valuable.

When playing for the Nuggets last season, Westbrook played 75 regular season games, of which 36 were starting games, and averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The three shooting percentages were 44.9%, 32.3% and 66.1% respectively, and the real shooting percentage was 53.2%. In the playoffs, Westbrook's performance is also commendable:

- In the first round of the Clippers, he averaged 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 43.3%, 41.9% and 70.6% respectively in the three events.

- In the second round of the matchup with the Thunder, he averaged 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, with three shooting percentages of 34.8%, 21.9% and 69.6%.

Although Westbrook's efficiency is not very high in the league, his role in the Nuggets is undoubtedly the sixth in the actual sense, and his real shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage have also hit new highs in years. In addition to his offensive contribution, Westbrook's performance on the defensive end is also significant, especially when he served as the Nuggets' main defender, he often restricts the opponent's offensive core from the backcourt. In the DBPM (positive basketball plus or negative) statistics of the season, Westbrook even ranked third in the team.

However, Westbrook's shortcomings are also very obvious, and the biggest problem is still his shooting. Even with Jokic, his three-point shooting percentage is still not ideal, and his finishing ability is often a worry. He even missed the empty basket at critical moments in the playoffs. In addition, Westbrook's usual problems such as many mistakes, improper shooting choices, and emotional fluctuations have always affected his consistency. Any team that wants to get him must be prepared to accept these shortcomings.

Despite this, judging from last season, Westbrook's value has actually exceeded the basic salary level, but the market reality he faces makes him likely to be able to get a basic salary contract. Considering his experience with the Clippers and the Nuggets, Westbrook may have been able to accept this salary.

The most important thing is Westbrook's role positioning issue. In the past season, the special situation of the Nuggets has made Westbrook the team's sixth man, and this role is actually not something that every championship team can provide. Even if Westbrook is willing to accept a basic salary, if he wants to get higher playing time and more important roles, many strong teams may hesitate because of his characteristics and instability. Only when Westbrook can he accept a lower character can he find a suitable next home for himself.

At this point, a possibility begins to emerge. With Lillard returning to the Trail Blazers and Paul returning to the Clippers, the Thunder reporter wrote: "This is a summer when the old point guards returned to the team in 2010." This seems to imply that Westbrook may also return to the Thunder. After all, he has played for the Thunder for 11 years and is still the top three players in the team history.

Returning to the Thunder seems to be a good choice, but it depends on whether the Thunder is willing to accept Westbrook. In addition, Westbrook also needs to accept a lower role position than last season. It is very likely that his playing time will be greatly reduced, and may even drop to about 15 minutes. After all, the Thunder now has many young and potential players, and Westbrook's existence may be more to supplement experience and depth.

As a fan, it is definitely worth looking forward to seeing Westbrook return to the Thunder, but the ultimate key lies in Westbrook's own decision. What is certain is that Westbrook's career has entered the countdown and the days of retirement are getting closer. Maybe we can continue to see him running on the field next season, but none of this has yet to be confirmed.