The Boston Celtics have been named the top landing spot for Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP and two-time scoring champion.
In light of the departure of Jrue Holiday, FOX Sports argued that Westbrook would provide locker room leadership and serve as a floor general for the Celtics. The publication further argued that the Celtics need a reliable presence on the court to fill the void left by Holiday, Porzingis and Horford, and Jayson Tatum’s injury absence.
“One year ago, the Celtics were the defending NBA champions and paying everybody on their roster. Now, they’re a team coming off a second-round playoff exit that lost its star player, Jayson Tatum, for the 2025-26 season to an Achilles tear, and traded away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to shed long-term payroll. Plus, Al Horford remains a free agent.
“Westbrook would be a bargain-bin addition for a team needing a boost.”
Perfect Jrue Holiday Replacement
Westbrook has never been known for his on-ball defense, but he did exceptionally well as a perimeter defender during his one-year stint with the Denver Nuggets. The 36-year-old averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds from just 27.9 minutes off the bench, while excelling as Denver’s best point-of-attack defender.
“Yes, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard remain present and will inevitably have larger roles, while Anfernee Simons – who the Celtics acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in their trade return for Holiday – is a plausible scorer in his own right. At the same time, Westbrook could be himself on the Celtics, coming off the bench as the second unit’s leading scorer.”
“For perspective, the departures/absences of Tatum, Porzingis, Holiday and Horford means that 66.4 points per game from last season is gone. Granted, Simons, who averaged 19.3 points per game last season, will fill in some of that production for Boston. Relying on being a dominant defensive team – Boston was second in the NBA in opponent points per game and opponent field goal percentage last season – that can stretch the floor – Boston led the NBA with 48.2 3-point attempts per game last season – won’t work for the Celtics in 2025-2026. They need variety and, more than anything, capable and willing scorers. Westbrook fits the bill.”
Westbrook Faces Uncertain Future
With just a few weeks left for training camp, Westbrook remains unsigned, a shocking development for a player of his caliber. FOX Sports explained why the Celtics could stand to benefit from the rest of the league’s unwillingness to embrace Westbrook.
“What could stop the Celtics from pursuing Westbrook, though, is them potentially feeling that they have enough veteran guards in their rotation, making the veteran a superfluous addition.”
FOX Sports named the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks as two other potential destinations for Westbrook, citing the Achilles injuries suffered by Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard in the 2025 playoffs. While Haliburton is set to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season, Lillard, who joined the Trail Blazers as a free agent, won’t be back on the court before the 2026-27 season. As such, Westbrook could help both teams.