Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
2023-24 playoff numbers (six video games): 6.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 23.5 3P%
Former league MVP Russell Westbrook deserves credit score for being keen to simply accept a lesser bench function as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He even had a stable common season in 2023-24, averaging 11.1 factors, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 45.4 p.c capturing, even incomes Sixth Man of the Yr votes within the course of.
However issues sort of fell aside for Westbrook within the playoffs, the place, in six video games, he was solely in a position to put up 6.3 factors and 4.2 rebounds in a first-round playoff defeat for Los Angeles by the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. Even worse, Westbrook shot 23.5 p.c from three and 26.0 p.c from the ground in postseason motion.
Clearly, that harm Westbrook’s free-agent inventory heading into the summer season, which can or might not matter contemplating the triple-double GOAT has a participant choice for 2024-25 on his deal, one price $4.0 million. Widespread sense would possibly lead one to consider Westbrook, heading into his age-36 season, can be set to train that choice and return to the Clippers for one more marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, that is probably not the case, in keeping with The Athletic, which lately reported that Westbrook, seeking an even bigger function, may very well be on the lookout for a special alternative elsewhere this summer season:
Westbrook’s function took on a special highlight when he was misplaced to a fractured hand in March, a interval that noticed the Clippers go 6-6 and lose 5 straight video games at residence. However upon Westbrook’s return, the Clippers went on a stretch the place they gained seven of eight video games, culminating sooner or later Corridor of Famer’s lone triple-double of the season whereas beginning rather than Harden at Phoenix. Even when Westbrook noticed success after his return, he usually talked about how he felt he might play extra, and he didn’t communicate to reporters at any level after the common season ended. Does the nine-time All-Star and former MVP wish to proceed in this type of restricted function whereas taking part in on a veteran’s minimal deal, or would possibly he have performed his method into a greater alternative elsewhere? Contemplating the challenges that got here with him being relegated to a reserve function, with staff and league sources indicating that the method was far more difficult behind the scenes than staff officers had made it seem publicly, the reply might very nicely be the latter.
If that actually is the case, it’s unclear what kind of function the previous UCLA standout, who’s about to show 36, is on the lookout for. Would a staff be keen to shell out extra money than the minimal and provide up a beginning job for the longer term Corridor-of-Famer?
That may be very a lot unclear for the time being. Although Westbrook can nonetheless assist a staff together with his power, protection and passing as a bench choice, which may not be the case as a starter anymore, as Westbrook has misplaced a step athletically and stays as inefficient as ever together with his exterior capturing.
Plus, his poor 2023-24 postseason the place he struggled to make a huge effect whereas changing on simply 13 of his 50 shot makes an attempt will most likely harm him if he’s on the lookout for extra money and an even bigger function in free company.
For extra on Russell Westbrook’s free company and wage, click on right here.
