FEBRUARY 22: Westbrook has signed with the Clippers after clearing waivers, the team announced (via Twitter).
FEBRUARY 20, 4:32pm: Westbrook has officially been waived, the Jazz’s PR department tweets.
FEBRUARY 20, 9:51am: Russell Westbrook will join the Clippers once he completes a buyout with the Jazz, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Paul George and Marcus Morris recently spoke out in favor of adding Westbrook, but Clippers management took more convincing, Wojnarowski writes. Sources tell Woj that team officials, including coach Tyronn Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, recently had discussions with Westbrook on whether he would accept a clearly defined role that focuses on his play-making, rebounding and toughness.
Those attributes could make a difference for a Clippers team that has been searching for a point guard after failing to fill that role before the trade deadline. L.A. unloaded Reggie Jackson and John Wall in separate deals, so there was a desire to find a lead guard.
Westbrook also had discussions with the Bulls, Wizards and Heat, but Wojnarowski’s sources say he was swayed by the chance to remain in Los Angeles and compete for a title with the Clippers.
Westbrook began the season with the Lakers, continuing a relationship that seemed rocky ever since he was acquired from Washington in 2021. He adapted to a sixth man role under new coach Darvin Ham and contributed 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 52 games. However, his shooting percentages remained low at 41.7% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range, and shot selection and turnovers were still an issue.
The 34-year-old guard, who was traded to Utah at the deadline, still must finalize buyout terms with the Jazz and clear waivers before he can join the Clippers. He will likely give up a portion of the money still owed to him on his $47MM+ expiring contract.
The Clippers were considered among the favorites in the West when the season began, but they have been inconsistent during a 33-28 start. If they get the best version of Westbrook to pair with Kawhi Leonard and George, his former teammate in Oklahoma City, they would be a tough playoff matchup for anyone.
Blatant tanking by the Jazz. NBA should fine them a minimum of 3 first round picks.
Oh please.
Yes, please stop this epidemic of tanking for it is ruining the very fabric of the game.
Utah did the trade for the picks, Westbrook was a salary off-load for the Lakers. Westbrook also didn’t suit up a single game for Utah.
To limit a teams freedom to take advantage, and participate in deadline trades with expiring salaries, and waiving them, or not because of a draft year introspection is not a solution.
This draft stinks after 5 or 6 anyway. Hope I am wrong, and get surprised this summer.
It would’ve been blatant tanking if Utah had actually played Westbrook.
Playing Westbrook with his shooting and defense should be considered tanking. The Lakers tanked the first half of the season starting Westbrook. The League should have stepped in.
What tanking? Team has tried to wim all year. They are not winning anything so they unloaded players with no future on the team for draft picks to build around markanen and kessler. Smart strategy if you ask me!
It’s only what every team that loses a star does, Cavs did it after they lost Lebron. OKC after losing Westbrook&PG13 Rockets after loosing Harden it’s the reason the draft is how it is, but I do think 3 years+ in a row should result in lower odds. (After this year though…lol)
That’s the beauty of the draft, the worst teams get the potential next “stars” while the current stars keep the other teams competitive. Every market deserves a star to follow or the league dies.
Stick to the iron mongering bro lol
This guy was clearly joking and y’all had meltdowns. I love this board lol
The ONLY way you get rid of tanking is by having a full 30 team lottery for every draft. And why the heck not? Doesn’t matter if you pick 3rd or 10th anyway especially if you’re the Sacramento Kings LOL. Or the Charlotte Hornets for that matter. That would solve tanking immediately, and if it was such a big deal they would do it so I guess it’s not such a big deal?
True, but that doesn’t balance the advantage that some teams have with marque free agents. Some are even further disadvantaged with losing histories. Tanking then becomes they’re only recourse. Can’t really blame them, can you?
How does Bones Hyland feel about the trade to the Clippers now????
The other side is not always greener
Shouldn’t have any affect as Lue is a mastermind at switching guys in and out of the line-up. Granted Reggie was demoted but still a testament to him and the team culture that you never heard him complain. As far as Wall goes, yes he did complain but even with his exit there wasn’t animosity just an understanding he didn’t fit. Westbrook fits with the Clipps as they need someone to push the tempo. Insert Westbrook at pg and Bones as sg and all the sudden you have a team that can stretch the floor and a spot up shooter in Bones.
Everybody keeps claiming Lue is a mastermind but the results since he has been the coach so far have been so so at best!
Lue is a good coach. Could be worse… Popovich
Not only would you get decent coaching, but a smart mouth, and egotist to boot.
Fantastic. He already bought a low rider and creased his pants. He’s ready to get some Fat Burger and roll.
Westbrook is a 3 month rental Nyland at 22 will be in the Clippers plans for years to come!
Happy for Russell Westbrook! Staying at home around LA. He deserves a break after all the besmirching talk about him. Go Celtics!
Like that’s gonna stop. Lol
Hard to besmirch someone who damages their reputation all on their own.
“Besmirch” is such an underrated word. Even better than “Embiggins”.
Juxtaposition
So glad he didnt choose a team to pad his stats… would love to see Westbrook play against Lakers :)
Clippers will
Cut bait fast if he doesn’t listen or plays poorly
Washington would have made way more sense for him, in my opinion, and the Clippers dont have a need there, but if they have a couple of injuries, that could end up making it a great fit.
I just dont want him being used as a scapegoat again
He wasn’t going to leave LA and allow his private school educated children to be disrespected by bullies calling them children of Westbrick.
Clippers didn’t have a need for a point guard? Ok.
I wonder if he ever physically left LA after the trade.
I see this as a good move, Clippers are a better fit for RW their system is set up to open scoring. Lakers was too regimented
for RW, he will feel free here…..
Hopefully not ‘free throws’ as he is horrible at the stripe.
Nothing regimented about the lakers’ system. No more than anyone else. In fact, they don’t have guys who move well without the ball. They have a ton of dribble and drive guys (pre deadline). Russ didn’t fit because he can’t play without the ball. And he couldn’t have the ball all the time because of The King. He can’t spot up, all he can do is drive and chuck up circus shots. He was useless for the lakers.
The Lakers record against the Clippers since 2011 is 7-36 and they have lost 10 in a row! Other than the pandemic season in 2020 since 2012 the Lakers have one of the worst records in basketball. 2 of the last 4 years they didn’t even make the play in game! They are going nowhere fast with no 1st round picks till 2029 and their future after Labron doesn’t look promising! Why Jeanie doesn’t fire Polinka is a mystery! Without Magic’s involvement Labron doesn’t even sign with the Lakers!
Russ wife told him to stay in L.A. He’ll drive and kick. He’ll have a big man to pick and roll. It’s so crazy it just might work.
The Jazz have been savvy. They have more first round picks than I have ex-wives.
It’s not hard to have more than zero, in fact it’s quite impossible.
Can’t tell if that’s a compliment or not lol.
Actually, he could owe ex-wives to another team before he gets a chance to sign them to a contract. That would mean he would have less than zero. Lol
Hahahaha!!!
Wesbrook> Wall or Jackson.
If, he can somehow manage to not chuck up a bunch of 3’s he could be effective on the Clippers.
100% guaranteed, Russ is going to somehow exact revenge on the lakers before the season ends. Maybe bounce them from the playoffs, maybe stop them from getting in…
Wow. PG and Westbrook who turn the ball over too many times are united. Yikes
Clippers and Lakers fighting to be the best retirement home
Week one “Bones we will green light you to take 10 shots per game”
Week two” Bones we will green light you to take a shot per game “
Big mistake.
What mistake? This team wasn’t going to pass the first round without him. So..
Seems Russ will start for Clippers. I’d like to see that. Like I said it before. Clippers will run with Westbrook. Where Lakers didn’t push the ball. It’s a good fit imo. Plus the revenge factor has to be huge. Clippers closer to Title than Lakers.
Law Murray: League source confirms to @TheAthletic that Russell Westbrook is headed to LA today to take a physical. Expectation is that he will start with Clippers, but it may not be right away. Official signing likely won’t happen until 48 hours after Utah Jazz waive Westbrook.
Clippers Will rue the day they signed Westbrick.
Will Lue rue the day as well? Lol
Lakers run more than clippers so idk abt that. Russ should come off the bench 100%, clips already start one non-shooter in Zubac
I can’t imagine they would start him but Clips have never made much sense (especially at the 1)
Clips run all their Offense off the elbow w PG/KL
RW would make less sense in this starting 5 then he did with LAL and with zero time to iron out any wrinkles
* Do think he adds a nice bench punch tho
(here) or any team really for the price . Will be interesting to follow
Russ can play the point. Clippers don’t have a PG. Russ feels more comfortable uptempo. I think he can start there. It’s not going to happen right away. He knows who he has on the wings. With the attention PG n Kawhi get. Westbrook will get easier shots. What they really need. Is for him to avg 10 ast. If he can go 20 n 10. Watch out
Except playoff basketball is played in the half court where RW is a terrible match here
Clips Offense is as bland as it comes-
Motion on the baseline, maybe a back pick, Pg/KL hold and orchestrate on the elbow. I dont see how RW fits in there …like at ALL
Not 100% hating on Clips O, its efficient,but that has more to do with PG/KL then anything from LUE/scheming ect
Well I hope you watch. And I hope Russ does it. To me, They need a PG. So this is a good opportunity for Russ. Since 2015-16 till now. Russ has avg over 10 ast. In 5 of the last 8 yrs. He avg 11.7 ast with Wash in 2020-21. That’s not that long ago. Russ has to wake up. And give what team needs most. That to me is push the ball and pass it. Just go for the ast. And he can help a lot.
Ill be watching but certainly not rooting for anything Clip related AL
I have zero probs w RW, I’ve defended him here for months, he’s still got juice and a place in the current day NBA, I just don’t think the starting unit here is a good fit whatsoever.
A wildcard off the bn, sure, I’m all for that for all 30 teams today
I get it man. I just want to see Russ have some success. Hope he takes advantage of this opportunity. Playoffs should be fun. That’s what I want to see
I watched the end of the Bucks/Clippers game from a few weeks back. The Clippers didn’t run any plays. It was just hand the ball to Kawhi and watch him jack up contested shots. The Clippers desperately need facilitation from a PG that actually gets their offense in motion.
The only downside is that defenders can sag off of RW to limit his lanes. Sometimes that won’t work, but history shows that it will. We’ll see if playing with PG will spark a better focus in RW.
The Clippers don’t need a point guard. They have Leonard and George. I’d rather have the ball in their hands. If the attention James and Davis get can’t help Russ with good shots then neither can George and Leonard.
Russ shoots .418 from the field, at that rate he’d need to take 25 shots and average 4.15 turnovers to get to 20 and 10 if that happens you can watch out for the Clippers to sink in the standings.
Called this and great decision. Wishing all the best for you Russ and the clippers
As The Athletic reported Thursday, LA received permission to speak to Russell Westbrook and talks have started among franchise officials. In that meeting, the two parties communicated what Westbrook’s role could be. Westbrook is set to meet with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in the near future as he continues to mull over his options prior to the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline. George already took the extra step prior to the Clippers meeting with Westbrook to publicly vouch for his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate.
Source: Law Murray @ The Athletic
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
“It would definitely improve our team if we had that traditional point guard, you know, to kind of get us in things and make the game easy,” George said after Friday night’s 119-106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. “So, hopefully Russell sees this and we figure something out.”
Multiple Clippers Players Want Russell Westbrook on Team
link to si.com
link to si.com
Only the whole Clipper organization wants a PG……..
Dude don’t you get tired of constantly being wrong. See opinions are never wrong. Cause they should be your own. Clippers needing a PG is a fact ……. Get informed lol.
Actions speak louder than quotes
If the whole organization wanted a Pg they would have had a Pg by now
Also, traditional? Thats not Russ…if they wanted that they could have had Conley for nothing more than expiring’s a week ago at Danny’s giveaway party (which they have)
* I am glad your onto the Athletic now Al, I know it was hard leaving fansided behind
You don’t think Russ forgot how to play point. Clippers have all bought in on Russ. It’s not a debate. Will it work is now up for debate. I have to think Russ is ready. If he plays like he did in Wash. He will help Clippers be a tough out in playoffs.
Lue is the wildcard. He fashions himself Point HC, which is an easier thing to be when the team doesn’t have a real PG. The LAC FO (Frank) has downplayed the need for a real PG since getting KL and PG-13, and has implied that those two stars were of like mind there. But the LAC FO is bringing in RW, and the stars support it. Haven’t heard anything from Lue.
How much money did Westbrook give up?
Still need to confirm this, but it looks like $768,213. That’d be the equivalent of 46 days of his minimum salary (and is likely what he’ll make with the Clippers if he signs a min deal).
ALL those bricks will help build the Flippers new arena!
Hope this works out for Russ. Never been a big fan of his game, but he shows up and plays hard every day, which is more than you can say for some guys.
For all those that beat him up for what happened during his time with the Lakers, you got to look at the organization more than looking at him. Who on god’s green earth thought that he would work starting beside LBJ? Bron’s teams are at their best when he’s surrounded by shooters and he’s the main ball handler. Look what Russ did in Washington where they needed a lead guard to facilitate and score. He put up a triple double and helped the Wizards get to the post season for the first time in three years.
The Clippers have six players shooting above 38% from three whereas the Lakers only player shooting above 35% in DLo. Russ will be much more successful with the Clips because he was set up to fail with the Lakers.
Russ is a clubhouse cancer. That and he just can’t shoot and is a turnover machine. Had nothing to do with the Lakers. Clips just shot themselves in the foot.