It’s starting to feel like placement season in the NBA. One by one, players are finding new homes. After Jonathan Kuminga’s settlement, Russell Westbrook finally has his. Months after declining his $3.4 million player option with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook has landed with the Sacramento Kings. The move isn’t exactly surprising, given how long the rumors have been doing the rounds. But now that the Kings have officially signed Brodie, a wave of questions and tough realities lies ahead.

DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Nique Clifford, Dennis Schroder, rookie, Maxime Raynaud, Zach LaVine, and Keon Ellis. That’s the Kings’ roster. Then there’s Keegan Murray, who signed a $140 million rookie extension, per Charania’s report on Wednesday. But the roster doesn’t look enticing to many. “Bobby, I’ll tell you what, when I look at the Kings roster, I just see a bunch of weird, ill-fitting names together. The roster feels like a big mess to me,” Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor informed ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

To this, Marks chipped in. He said, “I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs. I think they’re must-watch because of, as you said, the mixed bag of players. Certainly, Westbrook is almost like must-see TV in itself because of the roller coaster ride of Russell Westbrook.” Ouch! He added, “There’s the good, the bad, and everything in between. You look at their roster, and there are a lot of guys I would like on my team, but not together.”

Bobby Marks has his lineup prepared. “Domantas Sabonis is on my team. I would like DeMar DeRozan. Certainly, based on if I had a style that fit his needs, I would like Dennis Schroder,” he mentioned to O’Connor. Schr0der played an interesting season with the Detroit Pistons last year after the Warriors traded him during the February trade window. But this trio, together?

“That’s probably a little bit of a different animal, especially since you’re going to lose Keegan Murray to start the season with that thumb injury. You probably won’t get him back until around Thanksgiving at least,” Bobby stressed.

Meanwhile, the Kings’ bench features a collection of young talents, including Maxime Raynaud, their recent draft pick, and Nique Clifford. Westbrook might come off the bench, adding star power and unpredictability. While head coach Doug Christie aims to instill a defensive identity, the roster leans heavily toward offense. “I do think this season is probably, at best, contending for a playoff spot. In the Western Conference, that is going to be extremely challenging,” Marks concluded.

But the trouble here is that Russell Westbrook will most likely not make it to the Sacramento Kings’ starting lineup. Surprisingly enough, Mr. Triple Double, who is rightfully the future Hall of Famer, hasn’t been in the opening five conversation for a while. At the same time, his contract comes with an uncertainty, or as many might call it: a twist.

Russell Westbrook’s contract with the Sacramento Kings takes center stage

Russell Westbrook is likely joining the Kings on a one-year deal, reportedly locking in a $3.63 million salary for the season. On Friday, reports revealed that the Kings will not guarantee the veteran guard’s contract. This adds an edge to the move, creating suspense around his role and future. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported:

“The Sacramento Kings signed Russell Westbrook to a non-guaranteed, one-year deal, league sources told @hoopshype. The former MVP and nine-time All-Star leads the league in career triple-doubles and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.”

According to Spotrac, the Sacramento Kings enter 2025-26 with a second apron of around $20 million, giving them extra salary cap space but locking them into restrictive trade rules. Adding Russell Westbrook shakes the financial mix and puts $77 million star Malik Monk’s stability at risk. Guards like Dennis Schroder, Devin Carter, and possibly Zach LaVine could face cuts or trades as the Kings juggle contracts to fit Westbrook’s veteran minimum deal.

Thus, for Anthony Slater, the Kings look like an interesting team from the trade’s point of view this time. “I think they’ll be an interesting trade deadline team. February might be a hot Kings month,” he informed Tim Bontemps. Meanwhile, Bontemps chipped in, saying, “There could be a lot of stuff coming out of Sacramento. Not too sure how many wins will be coming out of the Kings, though.”

Well, let’s not forget that Scott Perry has his eyes on Jonathan Kuminga, and many experts also believe that the Warriors could trade him mid-season, and who knows, Sacramento could be the one leading the queue for JK?

With Russell Westbrook bringing unpredictability, a mix of young talent on the bench, and a star-studded yet mismatched roster, every game promises fireworks. They might stumble or surprise, or even spark a midseason shake-up. But for now, one thing is certain, and that is the Kings will keep the NBA watching, guessing, and talking.