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Los Angeles Clippers Rumors: 2 Major Questions That Could Dictate Russell Westbrook’s LA Future

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 5/21/24

With another summer coming up, the question about Russell Westbrook’s future is once again a significant point of conversation, at least within the Los Angeles Clippers. The former league Most Valuable Player has seen his role diminish in recent years, even accepting a bench role for the Clippers upon the arrival of James Harden in the 2023-24 NBA season.

Westbrook, who will turn 36 years old in November, knows he’s no longer the player he used to be at his peak. At the same time, he must feel that he is still good enough to be a starter again.

Russell Westbrook’s Future With the Los Angeles Clippers Come Into the Picture

Westbrook signed a relatively cheap deal to join the Clippers in 2023. He also has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season worth only $4.02 million. Westbrook, even at this stage of his career, could potentially find better deals with a bigger role on another team, so should he go that way?

Via Sam Amick and Law Murray of The Athletic:

Does the nine-time All-Star and former MVP want to continue in this kind of limited role while playing on a veteran’s minimum deal, or might he have played his way into a better opportunity elsewhere? Considering the challenges that came with him being relegated to a reserve role, with team and league sources indicating that the process was far more challenging behind the scenes than team officials had made it appear publicly, the answer may very well be the latter.

In 68 games with the Clippers this season, Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and only 27.3 percent from deep.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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