Westbrook rejects the option of 3.5 million and becomes a free agent! Is the next stop to compete for the championship or gold hunting?

Dear old friends, the offseason drama just started, Westbrook brought a surprise to his fans - he rejected the Nuggets' 3.5 million player option and officially became a free agent. As soon as this news came out, the fan circle was in a rage: Where will the 37-year-old "Divine Turtle" go next? Should I stay in Denver to continue my relationship, or change teams to compete for the championship? Some people even guess whether he will learn from Beverly and make a lot of money in the Israeli League? Let's have a good chat today.

Let's first talk about Westbrook's performance in the Nuggets this season. Average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. The data is not a big deal, but you have to look at his role in the team. When Murray was injured and asked for a teacher to take the rest, the whole team pointed at him and led the substitute to attack. His breakthrough and pass-through directly revitalized young forwards like Strauser and Watson. What's even more amazing is that after he was promoted to the starter in the middle, he actually played in a state of "Dream Back to the Peak", which made Nuggets fans happy: This is not a basic veteran, it is clearly the Ninja Turtles who rushed back then!

But the problem is - the Nuggets want to keep him, but they have no money in their pockets. The team's salary cap is almost up to the second richest line, and at most it can only give a middle-class special case (14.1 million), but Westbrook's market expects to be 8-10 million, which is a big difference. Even if Westbrook is willing to reduce his salary and sign a mini middle class (5.7 million), the Nuggets still have to deal with Porter Jr.'s big contract first - this guy's three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs is only 34.3%, and he is averaging 9.1 points per game. Keeping him is purely a burning money. But the Nuggets only have the first round of picks left in 2032 to trade, and it is hard to get rid of others.

If Westbrook really stays in the team, signing a 1+1 contract may be a compromise: the second year player option is convenient for subsequent renewal, and can also be operated with the early bird terms. But to be honest, as far as Westbrook's contribution this season is concerned, the mini middle class is considered cheap - he is the only ball-holding point on the Nuggets' bench that can maintain the offensive rhythm. Without him, the offensive efficiency of the bench will be directly defeated. What's even more serious is that when you are on the spot and not on the spot, the Nuggets' offensive efficiency is much worse. If Westbrook leaves, the teacher will be exhausted and deskinned, and the risk of injury will be directly increased.

What if I leave the team? Westbrook has many next homes. The first favorite is the Warriors - Cole's biggest headache now is that he has not played the bench, and Westbrook's ability to push back and strike is just right for his appetite. Moreover, he has strong defensive resilience this season, averaging 1.4 steals per game, and can lock the opponent's core in the key battle, just in time to make up for the shortcomings of the Warriors' outside defense. Let’s look at the Spurs again. If Paul leaves, there are a lot of young players on the back (like Cassel, who may be selected by Harper), and they are missing an experienced veteran. Westbrook's pick-and-roll support ability can also activate Wenban Yama, which is a good deal for both parties. There is also the Suns. If Bill really leaves, Westbrook and KD will have a topic to reunite, but you have to be careful of space issues - the Suns hit the third in the league with three-point shooting. Once Westbrook leaves, the space may become blocked, so you have to weigh it carefully.

The most interesting thing is the overseas options. Israel's Tel Aviv Hapur signed Beverly (3 million contract) before, and now it is rumored to give Westbrook an "epic offer". However, Westbrook himself said that "champion is preferred" and he will most likely not go unless the money is given out. After all, for a 37-year-old veteran, it is really much more to make more money than to win the championship.

After all, Westbrook's choice is not just about money. As a former MVP who has won a 5-year contract of 200 million yuan, he has long been indifferent to the difference between basic salary and middle class. If you jump out of the contract, you are more about trying to win dignity and tactical voice for yourself, or force the Nuggets management to strengthen it. For the Nuggets, keeping Westbrook is to keep his "golden partner" of Teacher Ai. If you can't keep it, you may have to spend a lot of money to find a replacement, and maybe you have to waste your peak period of Teacher Ai. What is Westbrook's age? Isn’t it just that I want to wear a championship parade T-shirt at the end of my career? His choice is not only the last "big bet" in his career, but also a key puzzle in the western pattern. The day the free market opened, the answer was revealed - let's move the small stool and wait to see the next stop of the "Divine Turtle".