Bulls Making Pitch to Russell Westbrook?

It appears the Bulls have guard Russell Westbrook on their radar, and Westbrook may share a mutual interest in the Bulls.

And per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT, Bulls coach Billy Donovan has already been in touch.

Westbrook, of course, was traded to the Jazz last week after nearly two full rocky seasons with the Lakers. He and the Jazz are expected to reach agreement on a contract buyout, resulting in Westbrook becoming a free agent.

The Bulls, Clippers and Heat are all said to be in the running for where he lands next.

“I was told Billy Donovan with the Bulls, his message has been relayed to Russ, that Chicago should be the place for him,” Haynes said on the This League Uncut podcast with Marc Stein of The Stein Line. “So I don’t know. I don’t know if they’ve talked extensively. I don’t know if it was a text. But I was told (Donovan’s) message has been relayed to Russ, that Chicago should be the place.”

Without question, the Bulls could use another guard, given that Lonzo Ball is expected to miss the rest of the season with an unexplained knee injury. Ball has been sidelined since January 2022.

The Clippers could also use another ballhandler after trading John Wall, Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard last week. And the Heat have seemingly been in every trade and buyout rumor since the beginning of time.

As for Westbrook, it appears he will take his time in making a decision, with a final call perhaps not coming until after this weekend’s All-Star Break. (Related post.)

Westbrook, 34, averaged 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 52 games with the Lakers, coming off the bench in all but three. He shot 42 percent from the field, but just under 30 percent on 3-pointers.

Fresh newsy stories forthcoming in print … but until then @ChrisBHaynes and I invite you to join us as we go around-the-league on the Buyout Market and much more on the latest #thisleague UNCUT podcast right here: https://t.co/fxwKhh5mK8

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 13, 2023