LA Clippers Anticipate Russell Westbrook's Signature, According to His Representative
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After snagging the nine-time All-Star guard, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports announced Westbrook is set to ink a deal with the LA Clippers following his recent buyout from the Utah Jazz. This marks Westbrook's return to Los Angeles, this time with the Clippers, as the former NBA MVP officially waved goodbye from the Jazz Monday afternoon.
The Clippers have expressed growing interest in Westbrook, with team officials, including coach Ty Lue and head of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, holding numerous conversations with Westbrook. These chats revolved around crafting a clear and specific role for Westbrook based on his playmaking, rebounding, and toughness.
At 34, Westbrook joins a Clippers core stacked with championship aspirations and features his former Thunder teammate Paul George. Westbrook weighed offers from the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat, but the chance to compete for a title and stay in LA proved decisive.
After a tumultuous season and a half with the Lakers, Westbrook opted for a sixth-man role, averaging 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 28.7 minutes per game.
The Jazz were between a rock and a hard place, with CEO Danny Ainge, GM Justin Zanik, and coach Will Hardy informing Westbrook on Friday that the team planned on integrating its younger players, leaving no guarantees for Westbrook's minutes or role size.
Meanwhile, the Bucks have been on the lookout for Kawhi Leonard, working him out last month. The team aimed to fill a starting spot with a sharpshooting big man with playoff experience. Leonard has played 28 postseason games across his seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Leonard's return to the NBA has been a long road, involving a one-week NBA suspension and a $50,000 fine for an antisemitic slur. In an interview with Jeremy Schaap on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Leonard admitted his ignorance about the slur he used, stating, "There are absolutely no justifications for what happened that day. Lack of knowledge, unfortunately, is a very real thing. I am not running from this, but I did not understand that it happened."
Following his suspension, Leonard was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and later waived. Leonard sought guidance from two rabbis in South Florida and consulted with numerous Jewish organizations to educate himself on antisemitism.
"I felt like I had just destroyed my life, to be honest... People had every right to make assumptions about me. People were going to need to, in the media, talk about this. And I understand, I do," Leonard said. "I said, 'You better go deal with this and show people what's in your heart.'... I thought that it'd be much easier to be dead than it would be to deal with what had just happened, because I want everyone to like me. I do not hate anyone. I would never purposefully hurt anyone."
Leonard has averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 447 NBA games with the Trail Blazers and Heat. Injuries, including ankle and shoulder rehabilitations, delayed Leonard's comeback, leaving him unable to secure a contract until this season.
"Since his use of a derogatory and offensive term in 2021, Meyers Leonard has been held accountable and has committed significant time and effort to recognizing the impact of his remarks," NBA spokesperson Mike Bass stated recently. "He has met with numerous leaders in the Jewish community and participated in community programs to educate himself and use his platform to share his learnings with others."
With Westbrook's skillset and Leonard's comeback story, the LA Clippers are set to make some waves in the playoffs next season.
Westbrook's decision to join the LA Clippers, following a buyout from the Utah Jazz, will undoubtedly bolster their championship aspirations, as he reunites with former Thunder teammate Paul George in the city. The Clippers will leverage Westbrook's playmaking, rebounding, and toughness to craft a tailored role for him on their roster.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard's return to the NBA after a one-year hiatus following an antisemitic slur incident, has been a focus for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks who are in search of a sharpshooting big man with playoff experience. Despite facing suspension and numerous setbacks, Leonard's comeback story, coupled with his past performance, could potentially propel the Clippers towards playoff success in the upcoming season.
