Last season changed dramatically for Russell Westbrook when he landed with the Clippers, and he’s grateful to the Jazz for the role they played in making it happen, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. Westbrook spent 12 days on Utah’s roster in February after a trade that ended his embattled relationship with the Lakers. The veteran guard agreed to a buyout when the opportunity with the Clippers arose, but he said he was willing to stay with the Jazz and help the team in any way he could.
“I would have come in and did whatever they asked me to do,” Westbrook said. “I told them I could be a mentor. Whatever I needed to do to help, I would have done it. Like always I do whatever is best for the team. If that’s to come and sit my ass there in street clothes and make sure I help the young guys, I’ll do that.”
Westbrook never left Los Angeles after the trade, Greif adds, but he talked to members of Utah’s coaching staff and front office, along with former teammates, as he considered the possibility of playing for the Jazz. Greif points out that Westbrook wanted to be with a contender, and Utah couldn’t offer that or a guaranteed spot in the rotation. However, team officials told Westbrook they would welcome him if he decided to finish the season there.
“I just wanted to make sure that he knew how much I respect him as a player,” head coach Will Hardy said. “And that whatever the decision ends up being, that he’s always welcome here with me. I’ve had a lot of respect for him for a long time. I’ve been on staffs in San Antonio in particular where we played Oklahoma City in the playoffs a lot, so I’ve seen Russell up close and personal. You know, his reputation speaks for itself.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Hardy abandoned his four-guard experiment after just one game, observes Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. With an abundance of guards worthy of playing time, Hardy used four of them together with one big man at times on opening night, but he never had more than three guards on the court at one time on Friday as the Jazz defeated the Clippers. “The speed of the smaller lineup feels good and looks good in practice, because there’s times where you’re like, ‘Man, they’re really moving and they’re pressuring the ball!’ And then you get in a game and it’s not quite the same,” Hardy said. “You find out, ‘Man, we didn’t rebound well, and offensively it was just OK.’”
- There was speculation that Justin Holiday might see rotation minutes with the Nuggets, but it doesn’t appear like it’s going to happen right away, tweets Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “It’s great to have guys like Justin, guys like DeAndre (Jordan), who understand that right now we’re gonna play our young guys,” coach Michael Malone said. “And they’re gonna stay ready and be pros while awaiting their opportunity.”
- Rudy Gobert claims to be in the best shape of his career as he enters his second season with the Timberwolves, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).
It’s been nice seeing Russ get some respect again. The bashing last year was ridiculous. Whether you like his game or not he always plays hard and he isn’t a diva
I’ve always respected Russ’s game. He always plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is still a diva though.
Jazz just simply need to start Colin Sexton at the point and play his as an off ball guard to Lauri.
Sexton played off ball to Garland in Cleveland most of their time together there and has 2 season averaging over 20 points per game. Both years he provided some spacing (38% and 37% from 3) and was good at the line (over 80% both years). Obviously he can handle the ball and get buckets for himself but what you’d be asking him to do is play off Lauri. Look to make smart cuts, provide spacing, offer secondary ball handling and so on. Then Jordan Clarkson can go back to the bench and assume his sixth man role were he excels. That leaves SG as the hole that needs filling in this team and is problem go for Keyonte George. Give the kid a crack, looks like he has some real promise just needs reps. Should hold his own defensively just needs to polish his offensive game. Would be good if Sexton and George could just be pesky on ball defenders, with the length of Lauri and John contesting shots inside and out providing some blocks for the quick guards to run off aswell. Obviously Kessler locking it all down on the inside. Keyonte would slide in perfectly as the 3rd/4th scoring option alongside John Collins.
Sexton George Markeneen Collins Kessler
Clarkson Dunn Fontecchio Hendricks Olynyk
With Agbaji competing for minutes with Dunn and Fontecchio at the 2 and 3. THT he’s can just be trade candy. I don’t think he works as a point and you have better options at the 2.
Wouldn’t mind them looking for a 3 that can shoot for depth.
The problem is that lineup has terrible defense. One of the reasons they’ve been playing THT is because he gets steals every game and plays solid defense. He was essentially even on Raptor +/- last year.
The other problem is Clarkson is the primary scorer when Lauri isn’t scoring 20+. If the Jazz did make a trade then they would need another shooter/scorer to space the floor.