The Clippers are trying to work out a trade involving Russell Westbrook, who decided on Saturday to exercise his $4MM player option for next season, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). A potential Westbrook trade was also reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter), who says L.A. is actively looking for someone to take on the veteran guard.
Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears that the team is working with Westbrook to find a trade that benefits both of them. It’s believed Westbrook has played his last game for the franchise, Haynes adds.
League sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic that Westbrook has expressed interest in joining the Nuggets (Twitter link). Denver has an opening for a backup point guard after reaching an agreement this week to trade Reggie Jackson to Charlotte. Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports confirms (via Twitter) that the rumors of the Nuggets acquiring Westbrook are legitimate.
Westbrook adapted to a reserve role in his first full season with the Clippers, coming off the bench in 57 of the 68 games he played. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes per night while shooting 45.5% from the field but just 27.3% from three-point range.
Westbrook provided a spark for the Clippers when he signed with the team late in the 2022/23 season following a buyout with the Lakers. However, his role diminished after a trade in early November that brought in James Harden to be the starting point guard.
The Clippers are facing salary cap and apron concerns and no longer view Westbrook’s salary as a wise investment as he nears his 36th birthday.
Good idea for Nuggets
Los Angeles Clippers are having hands down the worst offseason of any team. Paul George leaving for Philadelphia smh. Resigning James Harden for 2 years $70 million is crazy smh. Signing Kevin Porter Jr. is low risk high reward move but he’s been more risk than reward. Russell resigned for $4 million is reasonable but they need to trade him.
I have no idea what direction the Clippers are going
Does it really matter how you rearrange deck chairs in the titanic?
Which team is bad enough that they don’t have young players losing playing time, and no cap room to sign a better player?
None of that is a coherent sentence
it’s still pretty obvious to understand what they’re getting at though.
A team bad enough where Westbrook won’t cut into playing time for young players but also has cap issues and can’t sign better players than Westbrook.
Aka Atlanta Hawks. They’re definitely in the market for a back up pg and not really blocking a young player cause the roster is devoid of talent.
It was a bad word salad on my part.
But yea a team that will actually trade for him and use him.
4M is a bargain with these salaries I’m seeing floated for not even backup players
Westbrook could still be a positive on numerous teams. Fans tend to talk shizz on him but his teammates and coaches don’t.
Russ on a 4M contract is an absolute bargain …. he still goes at it hard, just temper those long balls though.
He can’t temper the long ball though. Multiple teams – same terrible decisions. It’s one thing to not be able to hit a jumper – teams can work around that. But they can’t work around a guy who can’t hit a jumper, yet keeps shooting them anyway.
Crazy to think he used to be a consistent 80+ percent FT shooter too. Now, he hasn’t cracked 70 percent in half a dozen years. His shot is gone.
I pray this man gets his ring one day cause the disrespect has reached another level. And it has been for no reason at all.
Russ definitely deserves better.
He’s grown into a good guy, but he can’t play anymore – so…,
Disrespect? He’s been all about russ his entire career. Selfish players might put up numbers, but don’t win chips
I like Russ but he’s brought a lot of the hate onto himself. He’s as vocal now as he was in OKC. When you’re an MVP it works. When you’re the 7-8th guy… not so much
Denver is going for Micic
Denver fans and Russ have quite the history…
Could he back up Brunson?
No thanks. McBride already backs up Brunson.
He’d have fun going clothes shopping with Clyde, though.
Can’t see a compteting team needing that type of 6th man…
Maybe the Pistons, Hornets or Wizards have a need…
Denver, Phoenix, Indiana, Charlotte, Washington kind of all make some kind of sense…
Russ and Coffey for Zeke Nnaji and 2 or 3 second round picks.
Murray Braun MPJ Gordon Jokic
Russ Coffey Watson Holmes …
Strawther Tyson
Get a back up centre or two and then fill out with more vet min deals …
Drew Eubanks and Mo Bamba would be handy along with an Alex Burks/Joe Harris type shooter maybe.
76ers and Suns are the best places he could go if he wanted minutes and maybe a chance to win it all