Report: Russell Westbrook returning to Los Angeles Clippers after team picks up option

Russell Westbrook isn’t going anywhere next season as the Los Angeles Clippers picked up his option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“ESPN Sources: Nine-time All-Star G Russell Westbrook is picking up his $4 million option and returning to the Los Angeles Clippers,” Wojnarowski wrote on Twitter. “Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists a season ago.”

The 35 year-old has been in Los Angeles since 2021 when he played for the Lakers. He spent this past season with the Clippers and will remain in town.

The Lakers initially traded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in February of 2023, but the team and Westbrook reached a buyout agreement.

After that, he signed with the Clippers, reuniting with Paul George, whom he played with on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As far as the Clippers are concerned, next season could be a big question mark. Sure, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are around but George could be gone.

The veterans in LA had a 51-31 record this past season, but Westbrook and company fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

Westbrook, a former UCLA star, is nine-time NBA All-Star and was the 2017 NBA MVP. Having played for the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Lakers and Clippers, Westbrook’s been around.

Russell Westbrook returns to Clippers, Paul George unknown

So with Westbrook back in the fold, the attention turns to George. But, the team is not worried about losing him, which is baffling to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“What I find interesting about this, is the stance that the Clippers are taking here,” Windhorst said. “Because this is a very important player to them, they’ve heavily invested in him in the draft picks that they used to trade for him … but they are not acting like they are desperate to keep him. You know we’re so used to seeing these teams that are in danger of losing star free agents pull up all the stops and they are not offering them a max contract. They are not offering him max years. There (are) legitimate threats out there that could take him.”

Westbrook didn’t cost as much money of course, but you do have to wonder about the Clippers’ plan moving forward regarding George.

“The Detroit Pistons have 50 to 60 million in cap space they could sign Paul George, but nobody considers Detroit a serious contender,” Windhorst said. “And if it was just Detroit, I could get them taking this stance. But there are serious contenders out there, multiple teams that are ready to pay Paul George, yet the Clippers have not at least, as far as I’m aware right here on Friday afternoon during the show, the Clippers have not changed their stance. 

“So you ask yourself why? Why are they not worried about Philadelphia coming in Sunday night and landing Paul George with a huge offer? Why are they not worried about Paul George pulling out stops to try to force his way to Golden State? Why are they not worried about the long shot possibility that even he could even go back to Oklahoma City? Oklahoma City’s got a bunch of salary cap space. There’s got to be a reason. I don’t understand what it is.”