Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook is exercising his 2024/25 player option to return to the Clippers, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
As our player option decisions tracker shows, Westbrook will earn just over $4MM next season. His contract is fully guaranteed. June 29 is the deadline for player options for the ’24/25 season.
The 35-year-old guard primarily came off the bench last season for Los Angeles, averaging 11.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG and 1.1 SPG on .454/.273/.688 shooting in 68 regular season games (22.5 MPG). He struggled in the Clips’ first-round playoff loss to Dallas, averaging 6.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.2 SPG on .260/.235/.615 shooting in six games (19.0 MPG).
Either Westbrook was content to return to L.A. or he wasn’t confident he could exceed his $4MM option as an unrestricted free agent (or perhaps both). For what it’s worth, the veteran’s minimum for a player with Westbrook’s experience is projected to be just over $3.3MM in ’24/25.
A Long Beach native who played two years of college ball at UCLA, Westbrook is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history, making nine All-Star and All-NBA teams over the course of his 16-year career. He has led the league in points per game twice, assists per game three times, won All-Star game MVP twice, and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021.
While he’s clearly past his peak, Westbrook still brings his trademark energy and tenacity every time he steps on the court.
Marc Stein reported last week that Westbrook exercising his option might not preclude the Clippers from exploring other options at backup point guard, with Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry among the names who have been linked to L.A.
Clippers has become more and more like a dumpster now as they are signing or waiting to sign all of those physically declining players like Paul George, Russell Westbrook, etc.
They should go after the young and franchise players in their 20’s instead.
They are doomed to fail next season again.
You make it sound so easy Joe but it’s practically impossible for the clippers. Who you’re suggesting they target and how on Earth would you get that player to the Clippers roster?
I think about the only way something like that happens is a Paul George trade. But he would have to agree. Otherwise their hands are tied unless you have other ideas?
Trade Leonard for picks, trade George for picks, trade Harden for picks, trade everyone else for picks, and use picks to draft and to trade for young players the same way the Knicks just did and the Pelicans just did.
At the very least they can let Kawhi and George go for Picks and then replace them in FA and use the picks to supplement.
Either way. Can’t be a real contender in this CBA without draft picks and organic roster building.
That sounds logical on paper but there’s zero chance of that stuff happening in my opinion.
I don’t get why it’s not plausible when the Knicks and Pelicans just landed 2 separate trades for players under 30 in the past week alone.
Signing Leonard was a Big Mistake. But then you mortage the Farm and trade a future MVP to get Washed up Paul George. How many games will Leonard play next year.
PG wasn’t and isn’t washed up, lol. It’s not like it wasn’t a good move at the time. They just had horrible injury luck. They did get to a WCF without Kwahi
Doubt SGA would have been able to develop like he has under the Clippers.
Westbrook has no market
Clippers need to acquire Lauri
Why not go to China and get triple double every night? :)
Because he’s not worried about the same things you are.
Westbrook for 4 million isn’t bad at all
It’s not. He’s a solid player. I think any team should want him at that price.
Russ gets to be in his hometown, it is a plus for him. He also plays a big part with them. I think their window is closed but they need a lot of luck.
Russ really gonna play out the rest of his career for the vet min!? From 45mil to 4 mill in like 6 months and he’s basically the same dude. Anyone ever seen something like this before? Surely, there’s a Ballmer secret suitcase being delivered somewhere…
I am a big Russ fan, but he is not the same player. He can’t drive and dunk which was a big part of his game. He abandoned the mid range game he use to do in OKC. He is not a 3 pt shooter.