Mar 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) controls the ball as Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) guards in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Sacramento Kings will reportedly sign former NBA MVP guard Russell Westbrook and will join a rotation that includes Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

LaVine, like Westbrook, played college basketball at UCLA. DeRozan and Westbrook are both Los Angeles natives who joined Kendrick Lamar on the stage at The Pop Out concert in 2024. He also played alongside Sacramento big Domantas Sabonis on the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016-17 and guard Dennis Schröder on the Thunder in 2018-19.

The nine-time All-Star played last season with the Denver Nuggets. He previously played for the L.A. Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets after leaving the Thunder in 2019.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Westbrook provides "some much-needed backcourt depth" for Sacramento.

But here is what veteran insider Marc Stein reported earlier this week (via The Stein Line):

"Westbrook, who turns 37 in November, is entering his 18th NBA season. As we've been reporting since July, Sacramento is known to have real interest in signing Westbrook but has maintained throughout the offseason that its preference is to move out a guard (with Devin Carter believed to be the most available King) before adding the former MVP."

Stein previously reported that the Kings looked into "creating a backcourt opening" for Westbrook without trading Malik Monk. Matt George also reported Sacramento's interest in trading Carter, who was selected No. 13 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Sam Amick had a similar takeaway in August, per The Athletic, writing that Sacramento wasn't expected to sign Westbrook "unless they can make room in the rotation by trading a guard" beforehand.

Perhaps if they trade Carter they can add depth to the frontcourt now that Keegan Murray is expected to miss significant time due to injury.

Westbrook was expected to come off the bench if he signed with the Kings, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. So this is what we can expect the rotation to look like as of now with Murray injured:

Sacramento Kings Depth Chart: 2025-26

Point Guard: Dennis Schröder, Russell Westbrook

Shooting Guard: Zach LaVine, Keon Ellis, Devin Carter

Small Forward: Malik Monk, Nique Clifford, Doug McDermott

Power Forward: DeMar DeRozan, Dario Šarić, Isaac Jones

Center: Domantas Sabonis, Drew Eubanks, Maxime Raynaud

This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Kings should trade a guard after signing Russell Westbrook

Reporting by Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win / For The Win

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