If Russell Westbrook becomes available via a buyout, veteran forwards Paul George and Marcus Morris would like to see the Clippers sign him, they said on Friday night, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
The Clippers, who have an open spot on their 15-man roster, traded away two veteran point guards – John Wall and Reggie Jackson – in deadline deals, leaving the club somewhat thin at the position. George said he thinks Westbrook would be an ideal fit.
“I mean if there’s, you know, somebody out there — Russell,” George said, per Youngmisuk. “If it makes sense and obviously it goes with our team, we’re all for it. You know, we need a point guard. But you know, (at) the same (time), I think we’re good as well. If nothing happened, we got enough in this locker room to be able to make it work.
“But it would definitely improve our team if we had that traditional point guard to kind of get us in things and make the game easy. So hopefully Russell sees this and we figure something out.”
Asked what Kawhi Leonard thinks of the idea of adding Westbrook, George said his star teammate “likes it.” Told that George was openly talking about wanting Westbrook, Morris also threw his support behind the suggestion.
“I’m campaigning, too, for him then,” said Morris, who went on to suggest that Westbrook didn’t get a chance to be himself with the Lakers. “… We accept him open arms, man. Let him be himself. We need the personality, we need the veteran. He’s been in the playoffs a lot of times, been to the championship. I want him to come. I think that you can’t kill a wounded dog. You give him an opportunity to come back, it could be dangerous.”
Westbrook technically remains a member of the Jazz for the time being, and general manager Justin Zanik said on Friday that no decisions have been made about his future yet.
Still, while Zanik suggested that Westbrook seems open to finishing the season in Utah, the retooling Jazz would likely prefer to focus on playing their youngsters, as well as veterans who will be under contract beyond this season. As for Westbrook, he might rather join a team closer to title contention. A previous report stated that he has interest in the Clippers and Heat. The Bulls, led by Westbrook’s former head coach Billy Donovan, have been mentioned as a possible suitor too.
Although Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has expressed some interest in adding a traditional point guard and a few of the Clippers’ key players are enthusiastic about Westbrook, there has been some skepticism that the team’s front office would be on board with the idea of adding the former MVP, per Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times and Mark Medina of NBA.com (Twitter link). President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank noted after the deadline that some contenders don’t have classic point guards in their rotations, as Youngmisuk writes.
“You play through your best players,” Frank said. “If there was a point guard who could be in our top eight or nine, you know we looked at those guys. … We need someone that won’t be played off the floor defensively, someone who can share the ball responsibilities but not be so ball dominant. You know the ball is going to be in Kawhi and PG’s hands about 60 percent of the time, so it’s a delicate balance. So, I think regardless of ‘point guard’ or not, they got to be able to shoot, because you know in the playoffs the stars are not going to have all that type of space.”
If the Jazz and Westbrook do reach a buyout agreement, he would likely give back the portion of his $47MM+ salary that he expects to receive from a new team.
Three-point shooting (29.6%) and turnovers (3.5 per game) continued to be an issue for Westbrook this season in Los Angeles, he’s still a talented scorer and play-maker, with the ability to get into the paint. He averaged 15.9 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 6.2 RPG in 52 gams (28.7 MPG) as the Lakers’ sixth man.
Westbrook is a great fit I agree. This team is not old like Lakers. They will run with him. Westbrook can just attack and share the ball. He can be productive to winning imo. Hope he signs.
Then I pray Lakers and Clippers meet in playoffs ……,
I think it hurts a team like the Clips.
much rather have a distributer like Morris put the ball in PG and Kawhis hands than Russell Westbricks.
now a team like Utah with limited scoring options I think is a great fit, but if you already have iso scorers, why add another?
also think he helps the Bulls in same regard, but going to the Clips he’ll find himself on the bench with the same issues he found on Lakers.
I agree about Utah. It makes no sense for Westbrook to give a lot back since this was his last payday. I know Utah’s looking to the future, but it’s still a contender for the playoffs (or at least the play-ins).
As far as the Lakers being old they really only have one old player and that’s LeBron who doesn’t play like you’re average 38 year old. And if you think the Lakers weren’t running with Westbrook you need to check the stats. The Lakers are number 2 in pace and are at their best when they’re running and scoring in transition. The clippers however are number 24 in pace and are the ones who don’t run much.
Clippers have the oldest roster in the nba !
They are the 2 nd oldest team in the league
What year does your calendar show Al ?
When Westbrook was with the Lakers all you heard was how bad he was and that he was trash. Now that he might get bought out there’s all these teams lining up to sign him and players campaigning for him? We’ll see who makes the personnel decisions for the Clippers if they sign Westbrook. He doesn’t fit any of the characteristics Lawrence Frank mentioned in his quote. He’s actually the opposite of all those qualities they’d be looking to add.
ya clippers downgrade by adding him.
he can help certain teams but Clips aren’t one of them.
I don’t release him if I’m Utah in the first place tho. they’re ideal fit for him
According to Lakers reporters
Lakers get rid of Westbrook
Because
He hurts Lakers
He is not accountable
He did not respect coach Ham
Westbrook is an all time great and mvp
Most point guards can play until 38 years old
My view is
Lakers hurt his career
Teammates are not accountable
Coach Ham did not respect the all time great
They were simply not a good fit. Brodie’s career is in no way over yet
Totally agree about ham, guy comes in acting like he won something. Westbrook has always been what he was in Los Angeles. Volume shooter,prone to turnovers,volatile,gamer and shows up every night good or bad.
How should his teammates be held accountable when it was RW missing all those shots and turning the ball over constantly?
That’s all on him. He’s lucky he held onto a roster spot as long as he did.
Oh please. Weatclank didn’t get along with Vogel, didn’t get along with Ham. See a pattern here?? He sucks and might get a mid level contract next season
Pat Beverly would be a better fit for clips
All this love for a washed up former All Star??
All RW wants is to get his and not have to listen to anyone else, including the coach.
He is not loved by most of the fans in Utah. He was a total ass in front of the fans when a few rowdy fans were heckling him.
He won’t be welcomed there. Besides, why would you play someone who’s leaving as a free agent instead of your younger players?
Makes no sense. Send him to the Clippers so he can play with those guys and screw up their team chemistry.
My best case scenario is Westbrook signing with the Clippers then playing the Lakers in the playoffs and eliminating them. No I lied that’s my second best case scenario. Best case is the Lakers missing the playoffs altogether.
Westbrook on the Thunder puts them in the conference finals. He brings the kind of veteran whip they need. Add Hassan Whiteside and they are in position to steal a championship.
What!!!
LAC really don’t want a PG. Deep down anyway. Listen to Lue. Listen to Frank. Lue sees himself as the point head coach. Frank doesn’t see positions.