Free agent Russell Westbrook is one of the top point guards available to sign this offseason. He’s had an eventful year but finally found his place with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 15-year veteran is expected to garner plenty of interest when free agency begins on June 30.
Russell Westbrook Free Agent Profile
Background
The Seattle Supersonics (later the Oklahoma City Thunder) selected Westbrook fourth overall in the 2008 draft. He spent most of his career there, and they later traded him in 2019 to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul. After a brief stint, he was moved again in 2020 to the Washington Wizards for John Wall. The following year they dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers in a five-team trade.
Westbrook had a tumultuous experience with the Lakers. He was a poor fit for the team and, as a result, bore the brunt of the blame for their struggles in the 2021-22 season. With the hiring of head coach Darvin Ham the next year, there was some hope for the guard. The decision to move Westbrook to a sixth-man role finally unlocked him. Still, the Lakers felt it was best to trade him to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal. They would later reach a contract buyout, and he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 34-year-old thrived with his new team, but they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns.
Westbrook has averaged 22.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 8.4 APG throughout his career and has received multiple honours. He was the 2017 MVP, a nine-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-Star Game MVP, a two-time scoring champion, and a three-time assists champion. He’s one of only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, doing so four times, and is the league’s all-time leader with 194. He is also a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Strengths
This season Westbrook averaged 15.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 7.5 APG. With Los Angeles, he emerged as a reliable option when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were injured. He thrived in his role and flaunted flashes of his old self.
The guard excels at scoring in the paint, using his athleticism and explosiveness to finish around the rim. He established himself as a solid shooter with the Clippers, shooting a career-best 48.9% of his field goal attempts and 35.6% from beyond the arc. He also excelled at playmaking, his court vision allowing him to hit the cutter or find the open man.
Defensively, Westbrook is a decent contributor. He can block some shots and anticipate and intercept plays. His best defensive skills were on full display in Game 1 against the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. In the closing minutes, he sealed the game by blocking Devin Booker with seconds left while Phoenix was down by three points. He ended the game with 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
Weaknesses
Putting aside his shooting success with the Clippers, Westbrook has a history of inconsistency. His perimeter game is spotty, and, at times, he lacks accuracy. He also struggles to shoot off the dribble and at the foul line. Sometimes he’s disengaged and stands around watching the offence. With the Lakers, his turnovers and shooting issues were very noticeable.
While he was known as a defensive specialist in college at UCLA, we’ve rarely seen his full capabilities defensively. He sometimes gets caught watching the ball and loses his assignment.
Potential Fits
Multiple reports indicate the Clippers are eager to re-sign Westbrook. He was huge for them in the playoffs, averaging 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.4 BPG. His stellar performance in just a few months with the team this season is a significant reason to bring him back.
The Suns could also be an enticing destination. After trading Chris Paul, they have an opening spot at starting point guard. Or Westbrook could be Cameron Payne‘s backup. His shooting woes wouldn’t be an issue for the starting unit, as they have Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal to carry the scoring load.
Another possible landing spot is the Chicago Bulls, who were interested in him after his contract buyout with the Jazz. They need a point guard as Lonzo Ball is unlikely to play next season as he recovers from a knee injury. Westbrook could be a primary playmaking option to relieve Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.
The free agent has also been linked to the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers.
