On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Russell Westbrook was a solid role player for the Denver Nuggets during the 2024-25 season.
That said, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported the news that Westbrook will opt out of his contract to become a free agent this summer.
Via Stein: "Denver’s Russell Westbrook is declining his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, league sources tell @TheSteinLine."
Denver’s Russell Westbrook is declining his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 13, 2025
More NBA coverage: https://t.co/RG4evmIKfi pic.twitter.com/n53xTbK9EO
Many people around the NBA world reacted to the news.
Bobby Marks: "Denver is $10.6M below the second apron for next season with Russell Westbrook declining his $3.4M option.
- 12 players under contract
- Flexibility to use the $5.7M tax ML and sign 2 players to the veteran minimum
- If Westbrook re-signed with Denver or another team, the cap hit is $2.2M and his salary is $3.6M (10 year plus vet minimum)"
Keith Smith: "This felt like a 50-50 decision. Westbrook will essentially get the same money on a new deal. Now, he has options to re-sign in Denver or go elsewhere, and could possibly sign another 1+1 deal.
Personally, I'd stick with a straight one-year, veteran minimum contract, but Westbrook may have the cache to pull another 1+1."
@TheWestWolfPod: "Believing that Russell Westbrook declined his player option, when he historically waits until the last second, over 2 weeks before his deadline date without knowing if anything was out there for him is a special kind of stupid.
But go off..."
@HEATVSREFS: "Westbrook is a free agent!
MIAMI NEEDS A BACK UP PG!
WESTBROOK x KD reunion in MIAMI!??"
@EthicalHoopz: "I for one will miss Denver Nuggets legend Russell Westbrook "
@BuiltDifferentP: "The Knicks better not man…"
@Cameronn05: "Westbrook won Nuggets multiple playoff games they maybe a play-in team w/o this year no way they shouldn’t do everything they can to bring him back"
Westbrook has also played for the OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
- Four-time All-Star's contract status puts pressure on Hawks in 2025-26
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
LeBron James and Anthony Davis share the same cryptic quote on social media
It has been roughly six months since the Los Angeles Lakers made one of the most stunning blockbuster trades in NBA history, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis appear to still be missing one another. Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February as part of the deal that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. The 10-time All-Star has since spoken about how he remains close with LeBron, and some strange social media activity on Tuesday seemed to illustrate that. LeBron and Davis both shared the exact same cryptic quote on their Instagram stories on Tuesday. They each posted the quote at around the same time of the day, too. The quote said, “Becoming the best version of yourself comes with a lot of goodbyes.” Fans were left a bit confused. The move looked like one a high school couple might pull after a breakup, but a lot of time has passed since Davis was traded. Some people speculated that LeBron might be sending some sort of message to the Lakers, as there have been rumblings that the 40-year-old is unhappy with his current situation. James and Davis were teammates on the Lakers for five-plus seasons and won an NBA title together. One report claimed LeBron had grown frustrated with Davis prior to the trade, and James had a very enthusiastic response to that. For whatever reason, the two pals felt the need to share the same cryptic quote.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif., in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Milwaukee Brewers Force Paul Skenes Into Unfiltered Admission About Brew Crew After 14-0 Beatdown
Shohei Ohtani named in lawsuit regarding $240M real estate project
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been named in a lawsuit that was filed in Hawaii on Friday. Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are being sued by a real estate investor and a broker in Hawaii who have accused Ohtani and Balelo of sabotaging a $240M real estate deal for a development on the Big Island. According to court documents that were obtained by Jimmy Golen of The Associated Press, real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto say Ohtani and Balelo deliberately had them removed from the project “for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.” The lawsuit claims Ohtani was brought into the deal for his promotional value and that he and his agent pushed the founders of the project out using “threats and baseless legal claims.” “Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants’ misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.” Hayes and Matsumoto have also accused Ohtani and Balelo of trying to push them out of a similar neighboring development project. The $240M Big Island development is located along Hapuna Beach, which is rated one of the top beaches in the world. Matsumoto was supposed to be the listing agent for the properties, which average more than $17.3M each. A brochure for the project stated that Ohtani, who was called “Japan’s Babe Ruth” has committed to buying one of the 14 properties and acting as a “celebrity spokesperson” for the development. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700M contract with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season. The two-way star is having another monster year with a .284 average, 42 home runs, 78 RBI and a 1.013 OPS entering Tuesday. Ohtani has also returned to pitching this season and has a 2.37 ERA across 19 innings. Ohtani was also connected to a massive gambling scandal last year, though Major League Baseball determined that the 31-year-old was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
What is 'biggest sticking point' in contract standoff between Terry McLaurin, Commanders?
As of Wednesday morning, the Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin remained in a contract standoff. The 29-year-old wide receiver, in the final year of his current deal, requested a trade on July 31. Team reporter John Keim of ESPN shared "why the two sides remain so far apart" regarding a possible agreement. "[Age] likely remains the biggest sticking point because it frames the argument for Washington," Keim explained. "McLaurin will turn 30 on Sept. 15, which means he'd be 31 when an extension begins. The Commanders rely heavily on analytics, and the numbers aren't kind to receivers at that age. According to ESPN Research, over the past five seasons, only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game; six have averaged 60-plus." Previous reports indicated that McLaurin wants "parts" of the five-year, $150M deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf in March after the Steelers acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks. To compare, Metcalf will turn 28 on Dec. 14. "One league source said he could see the Commanders eventually agreeing to pay $28M per year," Keim noted. "...According to various reports and multiple sources, DK Metcalf's contract has served as a guide for McLaurin — though whether that's in terms of average per year ($33M) or total guarantees ($60M) remains uncertain." Keim added that "multiple team sources" have insisted that the Commanders, coming off a trip to this year's NFC Championship Game, won't trade McLaurin for a future draft asset this summer. While playing with quarterback and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, McLaurin notched team highs of 82 receptions and 1,096 receiving yards last season. Only Cincinnati Bengals superstar Ja'Marr Chase recorded more touchdown catches (17) than McLaurin (13) during the 2024 campaign. "[Daniels] averaged 13.4 air yards per attempt to McLaurin, and six of his 12 passes that gained 30 yards or more went to the wideout," Keim pointed out. "Daniels posted a 90.6 quarterback rating (on the 100 scale) when targeting McLaurin." On Wednesday, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Commanders sixth among the betting favorites (tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers) at +2000 odds to win Super Bowl LX this coming February. The fact that Washington wouldn't be able to find a direct replacement for McLaurin before 2026 will likely give him millions of reasons to take the field against the New York Giants in Week 1 on Sept. 7.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
