Kendrick Perkins wants former MVP to land with Bucks

Russell Westbrook is an unrestricted free agent. He left the Denver Nuggets at the end of the 2024-25 season, despite finishing seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year race. However, the former MVP has struggled to find a new home around the league.

During a recent episode of the "Road Trippin'" podcast, ESPN's Kendrick Perkins pinpointed the Milwaukee Bucks as a logical landing spot for Westbrook. Milwaukee waived its star point guard, Damian Lillard, earlier this summer.

“I think he should be on the Milwaukee Bucks right now,” Perkins said. “I really do.”

Westbrook would instantly slide into a starting role on Doc Rivers' team. His ability to push the pace, control the glass and create defensive collapses around the rim would open up space for catch-and-shoot threats on the roster. Furthermore, a pick-and-roll between Westbrook and Giannis Antetokounmpo would have the potential to be electric. 

Currently, Cole Anthony and Kevin Porter Jr. — both new additions to the rotation — will battle it out for the starting point guard role. Both have proven themselves in the NBA, but have nowhere near the same level of experience as Westbrook. 

Spacing would be an issue for the Bucks

The downside of pairing Giannis and Westbrook would be the limited spacing on the floor. Both former MVPs are at their best when getting downhill and pressuring the rim. Neither of them is known for their work on the perimeter. 

Therefore, teams would likely feel comfortable sagging off their two-man games, running a deep drop coverage and meeting them in the paint. The only way to counter that type of defense is to surround the duo with shooters or stagger their minutes throughout the game. 

Rivers would undoubtedly have some ideas on how to counter the spacing issues. Yet, there would be plenty of questions posed to the Bucks offense, especially in the halfcourt. Of course, if the Bucks are looking to play with a high tempo, they could lean on their devastating transition offense (6th in the NBA last season, with 1.16 points per possession) to ease some of the spacing concerns. 

Bucks plans mean Westbrook isn't needed 

In a June 11 appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show," ESPN's Shams Charania reported how the Bucks were planning to put the ball in Giannis's hands more this season. As such, he will likely become the team's primary playmaker, which makes sense considering both Anthony and Porter Jr. can work off-ball and be threats off the catch.

"One thing that they have pitched him on is having the ball in his hands a lot more next season," Charania said. "...I don’t think there’s going to be any surprise if Thanasis Antetokounmpo might be on this team again. But they’re telling Giannis: we’ll give you more control, more touches, more creation responsibility. They believe they can compete in the Eastern Conference."