Warriors Urged Not to Pursue Former NBA MVP Amid Free Agency Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Nathaniel Holloway | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 3:32 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors have had an underwhelming offseason thus far as they have failed to make any additions to their roster outside of their two selections in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

This has mainly been due to the ongoing saga between them and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga who has reportedly turned down Golden State’s contract offer.

While the Warriors continue to await a decision by Kuminga, they have already missed out on multiple free agent targets and they are quickly running out of options to upgrade their roster around Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Despite this, it has been reported that the Warriors do have deals in place with multiple free agents that are expected to be finalized after Kuminga’s situation is resolved.

Warriors urged to not target Russell Westbrook in free agency

Golden State has also been linked to many players in free agency, including former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, though The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman recently urged the Warriors not to pursue him.

“Like (Ben) Simmons, Westbrook would be another non-shooter who needs the ball. His energy and intensity are unmatched in the NBA, but there’d be nowhere for him to play in the halfcourt off the ball (even if he has grown as a screener in recent years),” Emerman wrote. “It would make more sense for the Warriors to let Butler and Brandin Podziemski handle second-unit playmaking responsibilities than to turn bench lineups over to Westbrook and his all-gas-no-brakes style. The Warriors need less chaos, not more.”

It is clear that Emerman does not believe the Warriors should target Westbrook in free agency and he does make some valid points.

Westbrook is coming off a great season with the Denver Nuggets last year where he was able to have the ball in his hands at a high rate, which would likely not be the case in Golden State.

The Warriors are also in desperate need of outside shooting alongside their star trio, which is something that Westbrook does not excel in.

Despite this, Westbrook could be a solid addition to Golden State’s bench, especially with them being in desperate need of a backup point guard.

While that may be the case, the 36-year-old veteran may not be the best fit on the Warriors’ roster which will likely cause the franchise to look elsewhere in free agency to bolster their backcourt depth.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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