Rumor Details Why Miami Heat Will NOT Sign Russell Westbrook
· Yahoo Sports
One of the most notable names still remaining on the free agent market is nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook. His chances of a potential return to the Sacramento Kings are null and void after insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report stated this week that the Kings have no interest in bringing him back to the team. The Kings are looking to get younger, as evidenced by their buyout of DeMar DeRozan, and the constant rumors of trades of Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.
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At one point in recent weeks, Westbrook was rumored to be on the radar of the Miami Heat. They’re a team with a need for scoring and playmaking from the backcourt after trading Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis as part of the deal to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the Heat were reportedly advised to “stay away” from Westbrook. Not for his poor shooting or his somewhat diminishing skills, but for other reasons that have been blatantly apparent for anyone who has ever watched the NBA.
An NBA coach reportedly told the Miami Heat to stay away from Russell Westbrook because he’s difficult to coach, per @flasportsbuzz
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 24, 2026
“An NBA source who has relationships with Erik Spoelstra and other coaches said that a coach that Spoelstra trusts told him that he advised the… pic.twitter.com/xH6UXtwecC
Miami Heat advised to ‘stay away’ from Russell Westbrook
“An NBA source who has relationships with Erik Spoelstra and other coaches said that a coach that Spoelstra trusts told him that he advised the Heat not to sign Westbrook, asserting that he’s difficult to coach.” Not sure that this would come as any surprise to anyone, but nevertheless it’s intriguing to hear this making the rounds within coaching circles. There are some suggestions that the coach in question could be David Fizdale, who was an assistant for the Lakers in Westbrook’s tumultuous first season there in 2021-22. Fizdale was also an associate coach for Spoelstra in Miami for eight years through 2016.
Despite a couple of decent seasons the past two years, first in Denver with the Nuggets, and then in Sacramento last season, Westbrook’s options are quickly dwindling.
Ever since Washington managed to sneak that Khris Middleton sign-and-trade into a six-team multi-team trade to bring Middleton back to D.C. after that first half of last season, I have been ruling out the Wizards as a Russell Westbrook team,” reported Jake Fischer. “So really, I don’t have a home for him right now, I don’t believe Sacramento wants him back, I don’t think he wants to come back there.”
Could this be the end for Westbrook? Cleveland and Philadelphia had been mentioned as possibilities, but after the Sixers landed LeBron James on Friday, that would seem to close that door.
Westbrook can still put up numbers and have an impact on a game, as he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals while playing 29 minutes per contest last season with the Kings. But that ‘coachability’ factor could spell the end of his 18-year NBA run.