Russell Westbrook Rumors: Clippers Working to Find Trade After $4M Contract Picked Up
Russell Westbrook is a Los Angeles Clipper, for now.
Westbrook exercised his $4 million player option for 2024-25, but Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that the Clippers are currently "working on trades to move Westbrook."
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Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 68 games for the Clippers in 2023-24. While he is not the MVP-caliber player he used to be, he is still a reliable scoring option set to play on a cheap contract.
One team that has been linked to Westbrook is the Denver Nuggets. They were viewed as a potential suitor in free agency, and they should remain a team to watch.
Westbrook doesn't appear to be forcing the move. He is a Los Angeles native and has not explicitly stated a desire to leave. However, whether the Clippers want him is up for debate.
The team went 51-31 in 2023-24 and earned No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The season ended in a disappointing first-round exit, and this summer appears to be a consequential one.
The Clippers re-signed James Harden to a two-year, $70 million deal Sunday, but the team confirmed that Paul George is signing elsewhere. Kawhi Leonard is still in the fold, and other names linked to the Clippers include DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson.
While having Westbrook on a cheap deal could be appealing, moving him for other value could be as well.
