The Clippers‘ front office met with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, along with Tyronn Lue and his coaching staff, to assess the team’s needs following the trade deadline, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The group determined that a veteran point guard would be useful, particularly after trading away Reggie Jackson and John Wall, which led to the decision to pursue Russell Westbrook if he became available.
Westbrook signed with the Clippers after a buyout with the Jazz and could debut with his new team Friday night. The 34-year-old guard will try to rehabilitate his image in L.A. after spending a rocky season and a half with the Lakers.
There’s risk involved for both sides in the new arrangement, Youngmisuk notes. The Clippers are playing their best basketball of the season, winning 10 of their last 14 games, and will now try to integrate one of the league’s most polarizing players into their lineup, possibly as a starter. Westbrook, who will be a free agent this summer, faces the possibility of tanking his value even further as he seeks his next contract.
Youngmisuk notes that the Clippers are hoping Westbrook can become a more successful version of Wall, a similar type of player, who was trying to revive his career after years of injuries. Wall was on a minutes limit for much of the season and rarely got to play with Leonard and George at the same time because they were managing injuries of their own.
“Sucked that John didn’t work,” George said, “but what John brought is what we need: A guy that can get up and down the floor and get us some easy baskets in transition.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Kevin Durant will likely play his first game with the Suns on March 1 at Charlotte, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. There had been hope that Durant would be ready for Friday’s home game against Oklahoma City or Sunday’s nationally televised contest at Milwaukee, but sources tell Charania that next Wednesday is now the target date. Durant has been sidelined since suffering an MCL sprain on January 8.
- Recent comments from Durant and Chris Paul about Carmelo Anthony have led to speculation that they may lobby the Suns to sign the 38-year-old forward, according to Jeremy Cluff of The Arizona Republic. Anthony has been out of the league after playing 69 games for the Lakers last season.
- Gary Payton II told reporters that he wasn’t surprised when he failed his physical with the Warriors, tweets Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Payton said he knew his body wasn’t 100% and explained that he took Toradol when he was with the Trail Blazers because “being a competitor, I just wanted to get out there.”
Hope Melo catches on in Phoenix or somewhere else soon. Can’t figure how a guy with his pedigree and recent change in perspective to become an off-ball shooter hasn’t garnered an offer yet.
No defense
At this point, he’s not a difference maker. But because of his “tenure”, his salary, per the cba, would far exceed what his anticipated production would be.
Can get a younger, less expensive player for that same (anticipated) production.
You really can’t figure that out by yourself?
Not sure if the SMH or LOL fits better.
Makes you wonder what other drugs the Warriors players might be abusing, if Payton was so nonchalant about it. Plus Steph’s unusually speedy recovery. Plus Klay and Draymond mood swings. Plus Poole and Wiggins fluctuation in talent. The whole thing stinks, frankly. NbA needs to investigate and test them all.
its called old age. Lebron is the one I wonder is on steroids. He has been very drama queen rants lately.
You don’t want to know what LBJ uses/takes, and GA is also an obvious PED user
So the fact that Payton took some drug while in the Blazers makes you wonder about the Warriors…
Exactly. I’m not a fan of either team and that’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw that comment.
He learned it from there culture. Kerr is up to something I can tell.
And what’s with the II in his name? Is that code for something drug related? Makes you wonder…
grade C crapposting
right lil d? and hey….whats with clouds? why aren’t they all round?
otugar….yea. how does that even make sense. ? sometimes ignorance is just so blatant
It’s an NSAID. Not a narcotic. And Peyton took it while with Portland
they’ll want bans on advil pretty soon
don’t forget Looney’s erectile dysfunction! obvious side effect!
Lil D? What? It says he took the drugs while with the TRAILBLAZERS. After getting traded to the Warriors He’s now NOT playing and NOT taking the drugs.
He had surgery to correct something last summer and when he couldn’t get back on the floor he started taking it as a TRAILBLAZER, NOT a warrior.
Get your facts straight. You write this whole paragraph based on lies and made up stuff.
“He only took drugs with the trailblazers”. That’s like when you get caught and say “it was my first time chris hansen i never done this before” No no no. These guys are repeaters. And where do they learn it? Hmm. I’m sure a pro athlete never had to deal with pain before in another city. Open your third eye bud. You’ll be amazed at what you can see.
Conjecture.
Can’t wait for Curry to come back along with Payton!!!!
Payton duped the Blazers. Doesn’t say much about the medical staff in Portland, but lets them off the hook for intentional wrong doing, or harming a player.
How does it let them off the hook? It happened on their watch. I understand that acquiring teams often do more thorough physicals like in the case of Caris LeVert when he arrived in Indiana after a trade, but the Blazers should have tested him if they believed he was recovering faster than should have been expected. He’s not blameless either and put his health and his contract in jeopardy by taking toradol AMA or, maybe, without medical advice.
Wonder who gave it to him … if it’s the POR medical staff …
NBA players have trouble getting access to pharmaceutical pain releivers?
I doubt it, but yeah the Blazers medical staff is running a black market pain relief business on the side, that makes a lot of sense…
Payton was caught not on his pain releiver during the GS physical.
There was no imaging or examination that GS did that Portland didn’t. Payton just said exactly that. I took it to play, I’m a competitor. I fooled the Portland medical staff to play.
Whatever nonsense you are spewing is the exact opposite of what Payton just admitted to.
What is Melo’s problem? Just retire officially! Doesnt he have dignity or pride?
We’re not going to give up or retire if we think we can still play. Take it from me lol. Even though I’m crappy now I still get out there with the kids. It’s just the run and the trash talking, putting up some jumpers and locking a guy down or at least trying to. There’s no way I’m quitting until I have to. I’m sure the same with a lot of these guys, including Melo. He can still score so he still has something to offer.
He’s ruining his legacy. He had every chance to retire gracefully the last 2 yrs, but now he’s another journeyman. He needs to take a clue. He can still hit the jumpshot, but his diva attitude is not tolerable for contenders. He has never been a winning influence in the locker rooms.
Clippers offense is more friendly for Russ. It caters to his strength. If your FO says it. Your players all want it. Plus it’s obvious to those who understand ball. Clippers need a PG. Clippers want a PG.
Means they will go and get a PG. And wow look ……. They got Westbrook.
Some here should Lear what a PG means and does.