Why Russell Westbrook signed with Clippers after contract buyout with Jazz
It turns out Russell Westbrook will end the 2022-23 season with Los Angeles after all.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Westbrook plans to sign with the LA Clippers after completing a contract buyout with the Jazz.
News of Westbrook’s plan to join the Clippers comes just 12 days after his stint with the Lakers ended. At the NBA close, Westbrook was sold to Jazz, but the sides reached a mutual agreement that resulted in the buyout.
Westbrook, who is averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game this season, was the biggest name in the buyout market after the deadline. So he decided to sign with the Clippers.
Why Russell Westbrook is signing with the Clippers
Simply put, there was a high level of interest on both sides, but since that can describe over 99 percent of free-agent signings, let’s peel off the layers of where the interest is coming from.
Reports surfaced in late January that Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard felt the team needed to acquire a point guard to be able to compete for a title in 2023. After the trade that sent Westbrook to Utah, Paul George has publicly advocated for it for the Clippers to take a close look at his former Thunder teammate, with whom he had the best season of his pro career.
In the eyes of the LA star duo, a traditional point guard was the team’s greatest need. Westbrook aims to fill this gap.
According to Wojnarowski’s account, Clippers Brass “became increasingly interested in Westbrook” after speaking with the former MVP about his “willingness to fit into a clear and specific role at the Clippers based on his playmaking, rebounding and toughness.” .
With a pre-determined role for him, Westbrook reportedly preferred the familiarity of staying in Los Angeles to compete for a title over other reported suitors with the Bulls, Heat and Wizards.
When do the Clippers play the Lakers?
The Clippers, who have a 3-0 lead over their arena rivals this season, have their final meeting with the Lakers on Wednesday, April 5. As the season draws to a close, Westbrook will have a chance to try his former team.
Russell Westbrook contract details
After winning the MVP in 2017, Westbrook signed a five-year, $206.8 million contract extension with the Thunder. He’s been traded four times since then, with stops in Houston, Washington, Los Angeles and Utah before his contract buyout.
It’s unclear how much of Westbrook’s 2022-23 salary ($47.1 million) he will return to secure an acquisition agreement with the Jazz.
| season | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
| Westbrook’s salary | $35,654,150 | $38,506,482 | $41,358,814 | $44,211,146 | $47,063,478 | UFA |