Russell Westbrook Rumors: Clippers Free Agent 'Not in a Rush' to Make Decision

NBA fans reportedly shouldn't expect Russell Westbrook to make a decision the moment free agency begins on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

According to Law Murray of The Athletic, the point guard "is not in a rush to make a decision." Murray also noted he does not believe the point guard is a "dead-set lock to return" to the Los Angeles Clippers, with whom he finished the 2022-23 campaign.

Even if Los Angeles wants to keep Westbrook, it may not have the money.

Mark Medina of the Sporting Tribune explained the team can only offer a $3.8 million exception, which doesn't approach the $10-15 million annually that some executives around the league believe the 34-year-old could get this offseason.

Perhaps Westbrook will provide something of a hometown discount, though, after things went fairly well last season.

He struggled to adapt to his role on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 and for the first half of 2022-23 before the Purple and Gold traded him away. Westbrook has always been a ball-dominant guard who struggles shooting from the outside, and that didn't work playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

James often commands the ball, and his teammates need to be able to take advantage of all the spacing he creates with their outside shots.

Yet Westbrook was much better on Los Angeles' other team. He shot 35.6 percent from deep—much higher than his 30.5 percent career mark—and was more of an athletic spark on both ends of the floor.

Health problems for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George proved to be the Clippers' undoing, but Westbrook averaged 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game during the playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

The nine-time All-Star and 2016-17 MVP is no longer one of the league's best players, but he may have priced himself out of the Clippers' range with his rejuvenated play.