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The Los Angeles Clippers offseason of change may see another high-profile veteran depart.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, “The Clippers and Russell Westbrook plan to part ways this offseason, and the franchise continues to discuss trades for the former NBA MVP, team and league sources said. The Denver Nuggets are a front-runner to sign Westbrook if he becomes a free agent.”
Bennett Durando of the Denver Post reported last week that “Nikola Jokić has indeed endorsed the idea of acquiring Westbrook, according to a league source, but he hasn’t approached the front office demanding or pressuring Denver to make it happen.”
Westbrook, 35, averaged 11.1 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals last season, largely coming off the bench behind starting point guard James Harden. He shot 45.4 percent from the field but just 27.3 percent from three, as his inability to stretch the floor continued to be an offensive limitation.
He opted into his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season in June, perhaps prompted by his playoff struggles, as he only made 26 percent of his shots in six postseason games during a first-round ouster against the Dallas Mavericks.
That locked in a salary higher than the veteran minimum, though Law Murray and Jenna West of The Athletic reported in late June that his “return to the team is not a certainty.”
The Clippers already lost superstar Paul George in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers, prompting a new direction for the roster behind Kawhi Leonard and Harden. Most notably, the team has added Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Kevin Porter Jr., Nic Batum and Mo Bamba, solidifying its depth.
It appears that Westbrook may not be a part of those plans, however.
In Denver, the veteran point guard would provide valuable playmaking, a skill set the team lacks at the position outside of Jamal Murray. If the Clippers do part ways with Westbrook, Denver is a logical suitor.
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