The LA Clippers had a busy NBA trade deadline by adding players like Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, and Mason Plumlee ahead of a hopeful championship run. They used the buyout market to make another significant addition to their team.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Westbrook has completed a contract buyout agreement with the Utah Jazz and plans to sign with the Clippers once he can do so.
“After completing a contract buyout, nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook plans to sign with the LA Clippers, his agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports told ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote.
Wojnarowski reported that conversations with Westbrook involving coach Tyronn Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank were instrumental in the team’s interest. There is an understanding of a “clear and specific role” that Westbrook showed willingness to play.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & LA Clippers Updates
Before committing to sign with the Clippers, Westbrook had talked with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat in recent days. His ability to stay in the city of Los Angeles and compete for a championship with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George was more intriguing than the other opportunities.
Westbrook did have the option of reporting to the Jazz, but there were no guarantees on what his role would look like had he chosen to do so. It clearly made sense for both sides to engage in buyout discussions and that’s what ultimately transpired.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & LA Clippers Updates
Entering the season, Westbrook had accepted a sixth-man role and had found success after struggling to fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Overall, his time with the Lakers was clearly to be short-lived after the initial inability of the trio to succeed collectively.
Westbrook is averaging 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 28.7 minutes per game this season. He still needs to provide efficient scoring results offensively, as his output of 0.808 points per possession ranks last among 40 players with at least 1,000 possessions by a substantial margin. Perhaps he will improve in small-ball lineups with the Clippers.
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