Rockets' Russell Westbrook reunion somehow keeps becoming more and more possible

As the Houston Rockets attempt to cope with the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet this season, speculation will continue to abound concerning what guards they could potentially add through external means throughout the course of the season.

While the Rockets are, unfortunately, largely unable to make any trades or signings at this point as a result of their financial situation, Marc Stein, on the most recent edition of The Stein Line newsletter, has revealed that Westbrook's camp is not entertaining any international offers in hopes of an NBA contract coming his way.

This means that, despite Houston's delay in being able to even consider a Westbrook signing, his continued availability is effectively guaranteed as long as his other suitors remain stuck in similar quagmires.

Russell Westbrook will likely remain available as the season ramps up

For a number of reasons, a return for Westbrook to Houston would be serendipitous. Westbrook, since he last played for the Rockets in 2019-20, has bounced from organization to organization, seeking out a home that can make full use of his simultaneously dynamic and erratic skill-set.

Meanwhile, Houston is now stuck in the position of starting inexperienced guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard as their offensive facilitators , and, especially considering their addition of Kevin Durant this offseason, a homecoming for Westbrook could prove to be a storybook ending for all parties if he was able to provide an extra jolt of energy to the team's rotation.

However, the Rockets, due to their proximity to the second apron and their being hard-capped as a result of their Clint Capela sign-and-trade, are unable to sign even a veteran minimum player unless they are able to offload some salary in a trade or if they utilize the exception they receive as a result of VanVleet's injury.

To make matters worse, virtually all of the contracts the Rockets might be interested in trading for this purpose (including Capela, Steven Adams and even Dorian Finney-Smith) are unable to be moved until at least December 15 as a result of the new deals these players signed this offseason.

Yet, the longer that Westbrook remains available, the more plausible a reunion in Houston becomes.

While, as Stein also reported, the Sacramento Kings have an enduring interest in Westbrook's services, their current surplus of guards and their inability to move young guard Devin Carter are currently standing in the way of any movement on that front.

Therefore, although it might take a while, Westbrook is certainly looking to play at least one more season in the NBA, and, the more the circumstances line up, the more it looks like the Rockets could be the place for this to happen.