“Until the Giannis stuff is fully settled — and I don’t think it’s fully settled yet — teams continue to plan with that in the back of their minds,” Begley said on “The Putback.” “When [Bridges] does extend, I think that would tell you Giannis is put to bed.”

At this stage of his career, Westbrook is looking to join a title contender as a ring-chasing veteran. With injuries to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it has ever been in recent years.