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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 MVPÂ 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 taking pictures, even incomes Sixth Man of the 12 months votes within the course of.
However issues type of fell aside for Westbrook within the playoffs, the place, in six video games, he was solely capable of 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 damage Westbrook’s free-agent inventory heading into the summer time, which can or might not matter contemplating the triple-double GOAT has a participant possibility for 2024-25 on his deal, one price $4.0 million. Frequent sense may lead one to imagine Westbrook, heading into his age-36 season, could be set to train that possibility and return to the Clippers for one more marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, that is probably not the case, in keeping with The Athletic, which just lately reported that Westbrook, searching for a much bigger function, could possibly be searching for a distinct alternative elsewhere this summer time:
Westbrook’s function took on a distinct 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 house. 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 instead of Harden at Phoenix. Even when Westbrook noticed success after his return, he typically talked about how he felt he might play extra, and he didn’t converse to reporters at any level after the common season ended. Does the nine-time All-Star and former MVP need to proceed in this type of restricted function whereas enjoying on a veteran’s minimal deal, or may he have performed his means into a greater alternative elsewhere? Contemplating the challenges that got here with him being relegated to a reserve function, with group and league sources indicating that the method was far tougher behind the scenes than group officers had made it seem publicly, the reply might very properly 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 searching for. Would a group be keen to shell out more cash than the minimal and supply up a beginning job for the longer term Corridor-of-Famer?
That may be very a lot unclear in the intervening time. Although Westbrook can nonetheless assist a group together with his vitality, protection and passing as a bench possibility, that 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 taking pictures.
Plus, his poor 2023-24 postseason the place he struggled to make a big impact whereas changing on simply 13 of his 50 shot makes an attempt will in all probability damage him if he’s searching for more cash and a much bigger function in free company.
For extra on Russell Westbrook’s free company and wage, click on right here.