The Philadelphia 76ers ensured that they were going to end up with the worst signing of free agency by signing an even more washed-up former All-Star, so Sacramento Kings fans should not worry about their team getting pegged for making the worst addition yet.
As reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Kings have come to terms with former Most Valuable Player and nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook on a deal that will ensure that he stays in the league for his 18th season. Both camps maintained talks about a potential partnership all summer long, and after a considerable delay on this front, the veteran guard returns to California once more.
The move, while expected, nonetheless continues to perplex many. From the vantage point of the Kings, this is yet another indication of their unerring win-now design, yet their roster is quite the flawed one, and the addition of Westbrook only muddles their lineup and dynamic given his divisive play style later in his career.
Fortunately for Kings fans, the 76ers pulled off an even worse move during the offseason when they, without hesitation, re-signed Kyle Lowry to another one-year deal. That easily trumps the Westbrook signing, given that Lowry no longer appears to be a viable NBA player at this point in time.
The 76ers did worse than the Kings by re-signing Kyle Lowry
Lowry, who turned in his absolute worst campaign last season, seemed like a no-brainer for the front office to let go this past summer. Yet lo and behold, the 76ers managed to beat out everyone’s expectations and willingly handed the veteran another deal for reasons unbeknowst to reason.
Now, with Philly needing some reinforcements in the backcourt given the absence of Jared McCain to start the season due to a rather untimely thumb injury, the 76ers will be forced into giving Lowry a role in the year of our Lord, 2025. That is even more maddening when you take into account the fact that the front office had to cut ties with players who could still play instead of yielding to their sentiments by going with the sage veteran.
Sacramento will get a lot of flak for when this gambit inevitably fails, but at the very least, Westbrook can still play. He is also still in shape, unlike Lowry, who seems to have already started preparing for retirement with his current condition.
The 76ers really made a gross mistake in re-signing Kyle Lowry. Hopefully, their decision to welcome an unplayable veteran back does not backfire at them this season, lest they remind everyone of this major gaffe that continues to make zero sense.