The probability of Westbrook s return soaring? The Nuggets do not fully trust Pickett, and they still need the experience of a triple-double king to defeat the formation

When the NBA free market is surging, Russell Westbrook's whereabouts have become the biggest suspense. This former triple-double machine is now facing the dilemma of no one taking over, which is really sad. Surprisingly, Denver Post reporter Mike Singer revealed that the Nuggets management is evaluating the possibility of reconnecting with Westbrook. What strategic intentions are hidden behind this?

The Denver Nuggets' rotation lineup has obvious shortcomings, especially Jamal Murray's substitute problem needs to be solved urgently. Although the team intends to train newcomer Pickett and newly joined Bruce Brown, there are still doubts about whether the two players can compete in key roles. This uncertainty just created potential opportunities for Westbrook's franchise.

Early this summer, Westbrook decisively gave up his last year contract and became a full free agent. Surprisingly, the nine-time All-star responded in a cold market and has not received a substantial offer so far.

Westbrook's performance was still remarkable in the just-concluded regular season. He played 75 times in total, and in a limited time of 22 minutes per game, he was able to efficiently contribute 13.5 points, 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. As the sixth person, such a report card is perfect. His fighting spirit on the court can often ignite the fighting spirit of the whole team and can be called the "spiritual leader" in the locker room.

But the cruel stage of the playoffs exposed Westbrook's shortcomings. Especially in the Western Conference semi-finals, his data declined across the board: he averaged only 9.8 points per game, rebounds dropped to 2.8, and assists were only 2.5 times. What's worse is that the shooting percentage fell to 35.2%, and the three-point shooting percentage was a bleak 22.1%. Such a sluggish performance has discouraged many waiting and watching teams.

Although he performed poorly in the playoffs, Westbrook, who is about to usher in his 18th year of his career, his rich experience is still a scarce resource for the championship team. His decisiveness at critical moments and his ability to lead the second team are intangible assets that cannot be reflected in data. Especially for a substitute lineup that requires field control ability, his presence can ensure the continuity of the team's offense.

For the Nuggets, if they lack confidence in their existing substitute point guards, it would be wise to introduce Westbrook. The veteran’s return not only strengthens the depth of the bench, but also buys Murray more rest during the long 82-game season to ensure the team is in the best form in the playoffs.

In this offseason full of variables, Westbrook's future is still confusing. Whether Denver will throw out an olive branch and whether the veteran is willing to re-dress the Nuggets' battle suit is still an unsolved mystery. But no matter what, we all look forward to this future Hall of Famer finding the right stage and continuing to shine.