Between a loaded draft class, vibrant trade market and chaotic free agency period, summer 2026 has had general managers and basketball fanatics alike checking to make sure their heads are on straight. With a plethora of former Bruins in the NBA, many have been welcomed to new homes as the offseason slows to a finish, while several are still potentially on the move, barring trades. Daily Bruin Sports contributor Zach King awaits the start of the October preseason by taking a look at where former Bruins in the league have found new digs and may end up.
Russell Westbrook
Former Team: Sacramento Kings
Potential Suitors: Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards
Arguably the most prolific Bruin in the modern era of the NBA, the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player was expected to play meaningful back-up point guard minutes for a playoff-contending team when arriving last year in Sacramento on a one-year deal. In his sole year in California’s capital, Russell Westbrook made his way into the starting lineup and averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 29 minutes per game – all season highs since his stint with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023. However, the Sacramento Kings were a sinking ship on offense that could not produce when it mattered and lost 60 games. As the Kings guard room shifts to a younger group – highlighted by No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Darius Acuff Jr. – the 37-year-old enters his 19th season on a lifeboat into open free agency waters. Even at continued lower shooting splits – only 42.7% last year from the field – Westbrook still offers valuable leadership and effective bench production that could entice a flurry of contending teams looking for a veteran locker room presence.
Peyton Watson
Former Team: Denver Nuggets
Potential Suitors: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat
Championship teams face constant expectations – precedents of excellence to be followed and embraced. Unfortunately for the Denver Nuggets’ cap situation, they may have put too much excellence on their precedent. Peyton Watson’s breakout season, dropping 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season – all career highs – has put the 2023 NBA champions at a crossroads. Fellow two-way guard Christian Braun’s 2025 breakout season at a 15.4/5.2/2.6 slashline was rewarded with a five-year, $125 million extension from the Nuggets. Consequently, Watson has reportedly demanded a contract around $24 to $28 million per year – heftier, but representative of a better defender showing a massive leap in shooting from downtown, attempting 1.5 deep shots per game on a 41.1% clip in 2026.
Denver is already $5.1 million over the first apron and is only $6.9 million below the second, making it difficult to re-sign Watson at his current valuation without going over the second apron by the season’s beginning. However, giving away the only player in the Western Conference with 50 steals, 50 blocks and 50 3-pointers made last season would be a tough pill to swallow. Denver has remained openly confident about its intentions to re-sign Watson, and while that may come at the expense of off-loading large veteran contracts, expect a continued mile-high push for the former Bruin.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Former Team: Miami Heat
Next Stop: Milwaukee Bucks
While Milwaukee, Wisconsin may offer less exciting nightlife scenes than South Beach, Florida, last year’s Sixth Man of the Year Award runner-up is ready to offer versatility, toughness and production on a team that could use him in multiple different ways. The Milwaukee Bucks signaled the end of an era by trading star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat this offseason. In return, they have shown confidence in a youth movement that trusts Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s abilities to play multiple positions. On a historically fast-paced, free-flowing Eric Spoelstra offense last year, Jaquez flourished with his ability to create space and find spots within the tempo of the game, averaging career-high splits of 15.4 points, 4.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting around 50.7% from the field. Now back in a projected starting role – with the opportunity to develop on a rebuilding team investing in young and fast-paced playmakers like Brayden Burries, Ryan Rollins and Nate Ament – a cornerstone of UCLA’s 2021 Final Four team will look to take yet another leap in his young career.
Norman Powell
Former Team: Miami Heat
Next Stop: Chicago Bulls
Poise, confidence and competitive greatness – the three top building blocks of John Wooden’s pyramid of success – have been nothing but exemplified in the former Bruin’s game. From winning a championship in Toronto in 2019 to his time with the Portland Trailblazers and the LA Clippers, 33-year-old Norman Powell has consistently continued to improve as a scorer – averaging 15-plus points per game in six of the last seven seasons, and 20-plus in each of the last two. When traded to the Miami Heat last year, his team-leading 21.7 points, 2.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds on 47% shooting from the field granted him the first All-Star selection of his career – another milestone of consistency and excellence.
Miami was unable to afford Powell’s services after taking on Antetokounmpo’s contract in this offseason’s blockbuster deal, leaving him to sign a two-year, $45 million contract with an up-and-coming Chicago team. First-year executive Bryson Graham places Powell in a situation where he can both provide veteran leadership to the Bulls’ new youth core containing Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, while also starring offensively as the team’s primary shooting guard.
Lonzo Ball
Former Team: Utah Jazz
Potential Suitors: Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors
It’s been the hope that’s killed Lonzo Ball throughout a frustrating NBA career. The second-overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft had the opportunity to harness Showtime-Era synergy with LeBron James on the Lakers, become a breakout star role in New Orleans or just find consistent fitness in Chicago and Cleveland. Yet, either through a failure of front office confidence or knee health, the oldest Ball brother has not been able to perform at his expected level. Three knee surgeries in two years derailed what seemed to be a new beginning in Chicago after a year averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game in his 2020-21 New Orleans campaign. Since missing the entirety of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Ball has only played in 70 games – recently averaging just 4.6 points, 3.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on 30.1% field goal shooting as Cleveland’s backup point guard. Since being traded to and waived by the Utah Jazz, Lonzo’s continued future as an NBA point guard hangs in jeopardy of whether Minnesota is enticed by a Ball brother reunion or if Golden State requires another veteran guard presence in its locker room.
Kevon Looney
Former Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Next Stop: Los Angeles Lakers
In an era of big man flexibility and inconsistency, Kevon Looney has found success staying consistent and true to his game. The former Bruin center was integral in the Golden State Warriors’ championship runs of 2017, 2018 and 2022, providing interior defensive presence and standing as a vital rebounding force, especially on the offensive glass. In his last four years with Golden State, Looney averaged 7.1 rebounds per game, and in his recent one-year stint in New Orleans, he averaged 5.6 rebounds per game in a limited veteran role. Looney contributes to the LA Lakers’ push to find a consistent source of interior production, adding to their recent trade for center Walker Kessler. In his return to LA, Looney will look to create a connection with both Kessler and star point guard Luka Dončić, aiming to emulate the Dončić-led Dallas Mavericks teams, who thrived with the big-man presence of both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Kyle Anderson
Former Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Next Stop: Toronto Raptors
Kyle Anderson’s next stop takes him through three time zones in the last twelve months. After a fractured 2025-26 season split between Utah, Memphis and Minnesota, the savvy, defensive-minded veteran looks once again to provide experience within a young locker room – this time joined by former San Antonio teammate Kawhi Leonard making his return to the Six. While only averaging 4.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.7 boards a night during his last stint with the Timberwolves, the 30th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft will remain a versatile piece for Raptors coach Darko Rajaković to use in many ways – while also providing Scottie Barnes, 2025 first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles and 2026 first-rounder Allen Graves with valuable mentorship.
Kevin Love
Former Team: Utah Jazz
Possible Suitors: Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers
Bruin royalty is one franchise reunion tour away from a storybook ending. After four years of veteran leadership off the bench with Cleveland, Miami and Utah, the five-time All-Star has made clear he’s keeping his options open. Coming off a modest season in Utah – 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 16.6 minutes across 37 games in 2025-26 – Kevin Love has been linked to a reunion with fellow 2016 3-1 comeback orchestrator and NBA champion LeBron James. Either way, Love provides steady production and strong leadership – qualities that could serve a young, rebuilding core or a title-contending juggernaut alike.
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