(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers were expected to be in the market for a starting-caliber point guard this offseason, but that may no longer be the case.
According to NBA insider Eric Pincus, via NBACentral, the Clippers are hoping to bring Russell Westbrook back on a $3.8 million, one-year contract.
The team hopes the former MVP takes a hometown discount to run it back with the team after a successful end to the season.
The Clippers are hoping to re-sign Russell Westbrook at a home-town discount ($3.8 million) for one year, per @EricPincus pic.twitter.com/kRfj4UrSwd
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 15, 2023
Westbrook has made more than enough money throughout the course of his career, and he’s unlikely to get another long-term, lucrative deal at this point, so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to think he’s going to accept.
Moreover, he’s been scapegoated and mistreated way too often over the past couple of years, and the Clippers’ locker room, front office, coaching staff, and even fanbase actually embraced him, so that’s another factor to consider here.
He still deserves plenty of respect for all he’s done in this league, and there’s no doubt that he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Westbrook is no longer the kind of player who could single-handedly lead a team to the playoffs, but he still had some bright moments for Tyronn Lue’s team last season, and they need someone who can hold down the fort if — when — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George get hurt.
Even so, the Clippers will need to add more depth and figure out ways to win without their two best players, as it just seems like they cannot stay healthy when it matters the most.
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