Russell Westbrook’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, revealed on Monday that the All-Star guard is interested in joining the LA Clippers after completing a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz.

The parties finalized the buyout on the remaining $47 million left on Westbrook’s contract with the Jazz, with the team officially waiving Westbrook on Monday.

In addition to Westbrook desiring a move back to Los Angeles, this time to the Clippers, the Clippers have also taken an interest in Westbrook. Head coach Ty Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank both entered into a discussion with Westbrook whereby they explained the clear role that he would play in the team. According to sources, the Clippers are looking to build a strategy around Westbrook’s playmaking and physical strength.

Westbrook had entered discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat in recent days before deciding to seek a deal with the Clippers. The nine-time All-Star decided on the Clippers due to his desire to move back to Los Angeles as well as the opportunity to play for an NBA Championship.

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Russell Westbrook is expected to take some time during the All-Star break to consider the next steps that he wants to take for his career, sources reported to ESPN on Saturday. The veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz on deadline day last week.

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik, and coach Will Hardy spoke on Friday with Westbrook and his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, stating that they welcome him into the team. They warned, however, that the team would be prioritizing playing its younger players and that no guarantees could be made with regard to Westbrook’s minutes or role in the team.

Among Westbrook’s options going forward would be a contract buyout on the remainder of his $47 million salary this season. This move would enable him to become a free agent, in which case he could sign for another team in the hope of securing more playing time. According to sources, the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, and Miami Heat are all options in this scenario.

By agreeing to a contract buyout by March 1, Westbrook can still be eligible to be part of a playoff roster if he chooses to go down this route. Westbrook could otherwise remain with the team and fight to earn his place in the starting lineup.

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The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

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It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

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After missing out on superstar players in recent years, the New York Knicks are ready to attempt to land one again this offseason. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, one of their potential targets is Houston Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.

With head coach Mike D’Antoni gone, the Rockets look like they are set to make some other big changes this offseason. The chatter around the league is that this could include a roster overhaul, in which case Westbrook would be made available.

If this turns out to be the case, the Knicks will explore making a move for the 2017’s NBA MVP as they look to get back to contention. Begley adds that Westbrook himself would likely not be opposed to the move, considering that he had New York on his list of preferred destinations when Oklahoma City Thunders decided to trade him last year.

Despite the rumors, the chances of Houston moving Russell Westbrook remain slim. Although the 31-year-old guard had a slow start in 2019/20, he finished the shortened regular season on a high note and took over as the team’s most dominant force on the offense. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

The only possible reason for the Rockets to move Westbrook would be his huge contract. The team is currently maxed-out cap-wise, and getting off his remaining three-year, $132 million deal would allow them bigger flexibility in retooling their squad in order to continue building around James Harden.

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Oklahoma City Thunder has finalized the job of parting ways with the All-Star part of their roster this offseason. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Thunder traded 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook to Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Chris Paul.

Wojnarowski reports that the deal also includes Rockets sending two first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, both protected from No.1 to No.4, as part of the deal. OKC will also have the opportunity to swap picks with Houston in 2021 and 2025.

Thunder isn’t expected to keep Paul on their roster, and will probably re-direct him to another team before the trade deadline concludes.

Although the teams haven’t officially announced the trade, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta confirmed to Houston’s Fox 26 that Westbrook is coming to town.

“We’re excited to have Russell Westbrook,” – said Fertitta. “I would watch him play for Oklahoma City, and he’s so athletic. At the same time, this franchise just had the two years with the most wins it’s ever had in consecutive years, and we wouldn’t have accomplished that without Chris Paul. Chris Paul is unbelievable, and he’s gonna be sadly missed.”

Ever since Thunder traded All-NBA forward Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a monster haul of picks, Westbrook and Thunder’ general manager Sam Presti worked together in order to figure out their next step. Both sides ended up “welcoming” the idea that Westbrook gets traded and Presti was willing to hear out the player’s wishes about his next destination as a way to thank him for his contribution to the franchise.

Although Thunder would certainly be able to get a better package from some other team, Presti orchestrated the trade with Houston Rockets which will reunite Russell Westbrook with his former teammate James Harden. Both Westbrook and Harden discussed the possibility of playing together in the past few days and were enthusiastic about teaming up.

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The NBA landscape was altered in a big way last weekend when Kawhi Leonard decided to head for Los Angeles and the Clippers franchise in free agency after winning an NBA title in his only season with the Toronto Raptors.

Despite an excellent supporting cast that was due to return for the 2019-20 season and the passionate love of a city and an entire country, Leonard’s desire was to return home. With him, he’s bringing former OKC Thunder small forward Paul George with him. The Clippers agreed to send a bevy of draft picks to the Thunder in order to acquire the 2019 NBA MVP finalist’s services, pairing two of the league’s elite perimeter players together at the Staples Center.

Now, Oklahoma City is left with a dilemma. They don’t have the roster to compete for a championship or even the playoffs, but they still do have a superstar in Russell Westbrook. The 30-year-old point guard and former NBA MVP has shown few signs of slowing down, averaging a triple-double (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists) last season. The Thunder are reportedly looking to trade Westbrook and start a rebuild, and they have several suitors.

Nonetheless, we believe that the best fit for Russell Westbrook happens to be the team that Kawhi Leonard just left: the Toronto Raptors.

Raptors president Masai Ujiri has shown himself to be one of the league’s best roster constructors. He’s also shown an ability to make creative trades in order to land superstars, as he did for Kawhi Leonard, which means that he could probably find a way to free up enough salary cap space to make Russell Westbrook’s 4-year, $170 million contract work.

Now that Kawhi Leonard isn’t an option for a huge deal, the Raptors could find a way to add Westbrook’s salary to their roster. The supporting cast around him would be solid and would put the Raptors in instant contention to win the Eastern Conference yet again. Kyle Lowry and Westbrook would form a dynamic backcourt duo unrivaled by any other in the league.

On top of that, the Raptors have a solid base of big men to pair with a potential Westbrook addition. Still around from last year’s championship roster are Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, and young breakout star Pascal Siakam. While Leonard has moved on, it’s undeniable that the Raptors still have plenty of talent to make them competitive on their roster.

Toronto is looking for another star, and Russell Westbrook is the perfect fit for a reeling franchise that is trying to pick up the pieces after Kawhi Leonard’s disappointing departure. This move makes all the sense in the world, and both the Thunder and Raptors could end up being big winners in a potential deal for the All-Pro superstar.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder were cornered into making a franchise-altering decision when 2019 NBA MVP finalist Paul George asked them to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers to join up with Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

Now that George is heading out the door and Russell Westbrook is the only star left on a weakening OKC roster, it seems as if he could become the next player to bid adieu to the Thunder.

Multiple sources reported on the possibility of a Westbrook deal that would bring the point guard’s 11-year tenure with the Western Conference franchise to an end.

Westbrook has developed into one of the NBA’s best players since breaking into the league in 2008. During his time in OKC, he accumulated one of the most impressive resumes in the NBA over the past decade.

Westbrook was named NBA MVP in 2017, has been named twice to the NBA All-Pro first team, and six times to the second-team squad. He is an elite point guard who has shown little signs of slowing down at the age of 30.

It remains unclear which teams could potentially acquire Westbrook, but one team that immediately emerged as a potential destination has been the Miami Heat. The Southeast Conference team acquired Jimmy Butler earlier this offseason and could be looking for a superstar to pair with him.

For now, NBA fans must watch and wait to see what will become of Westbrook’s future in the league.

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Russell Westbrook’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, revealed on Monday that the All-Star guard is interested in joining the LA Clippers after completing a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz.

The parties finalized the buyout on the remaining $47 million left on Westbrook’s contract with the Jazz, with the team officially waiving Westbrook on Monday.

In addition to Westbrook desiring a move back to Los Angeles, this time to the Clippers, the Clippers have also taken an interest in Westbrook. Head coach Ty Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank both entered into a discussion with Westbrook whereby they explained the clear role that he would play in the team. According to sources, the Clippers are looking to build a strategy around Westbrook’s playmaking and physical strength.

Westbrook had entered discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat in recent days before deciding to seek a deal with the Clippers. The nine-time All-Star decided on the Clippers due to his desire to move back to Los Angeles as well as the opportunity to play for an NBA Championship.

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Russell Westbrook is expected to take some time during the All-Star break to consider the next steps that he wants to take for his career, sources reported to ESPN on Saturday. The veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz on deadline day last week.

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik, and coach Will Hardy spoke on Friday with Westbrook and his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, stating that they welcome him into the team. They warned, however, that the team would be prioritizing playing its younger players and that no guarantees could be made with regard to Westbrook’s minutes or role in the team.

Among Westbrook’s options going forward would be a contract buyout on the remainder of his $47 million salary this season. This move would enable him to become a free agent, in which case he could sign for another team in the hope of securing more playing time. According to sources, the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, and Miami Heat are all options in this scenario.

By agreeing to a contract buyout by March 1, Westbrook can still be eligible to be part of a playoff roster if he chooses to go down this route. Westbrook could otherwise remain with the team and fight to earn his place in the starting lineup.

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The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

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It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

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After missing out on superstar players in recent years, the New York Knicks are ready to attempt to land one again this offseason. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, one of their potential targets is Houston Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.

With head coach Mike D’Antoni gone, the Rockets look like they are set to make some other big changes this offseason. The chatter around the league is that this could include a roster overhaul, in which case Westbrook would be made available.

If this turns out to be the case, the Knicks will explore making a move for the 2017’s NBA MVP as they look to get back to contention. Begley adds that Westbrook himself would likely not be opposed to the move, considering that he had New York on his list of preferred destinations when Oklahoma City Thunders decided to trade him last year.

Despite the rumors, the chances of Houston moving Russell Westbrook remain slim. Although the 31-year-old guard had a slow start in 2019/20, he finished the shortened regular season on a high note and took over as the team’s most dominant force on the offense. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

The only possible reason for the Rockets to move Westbrook would be his huge contract. The team is currently maxed-out cap-wise, and getting off his remaining three-year, $132 million deal would allow them bigger flexibility in retooling their squad in order to continue building around James Harden.

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Oklahoma City Thunder has finalized the job of parting ways with the All-Star part of their roster this offseason. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Thunder traded 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook to Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Chris Paul.

Wojnarowski reports that the deal also includes Rockets sending two first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, both protected from No.1 to No.4, as part of the deal. OKC will also have the opportunity to swap picks with Houston in 2021 and 2025.

Thunder isn’t expected to keep Paul on their roster, and will probably re-direct him to another team before the trade deadline concludes.

Although the teams haven’t officially announced the trade, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta confirmed to Houston’s Fox 26 that Westbrook is coming to town.

“We’re excited to have Russell Westbrook,” – said Fertitta. “I would watch him play for Oklahoma City, and he’s so athletic. At the same time, this franchise just had the two years with the most wins it’s ever had in consecutive years, and we wouldn’t have accomplished that without Chris Paul. Chris Paul is unbelievable, and he’s gonna be sadly missed.”

Ever since Thunder traded All-NBA forward Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a monster haul of picks, Westbrook and Thunder’ general manager Sam Presti worked together in order to figure out their next step. Both sides ended up “welcoming” the idea that Westbrook gets traded and Presti was willing to hear out the player’s wishes about his next destination as a way to thank him for his contribution to the franchise.

Although Thunder would certainly be able to get a better package from some other team, Presti orchestrated the trade with Houston Rockets which will reunite Russell Westbrook with his former teammate James Harden. Both Westbrook and Harden discussed the possibility of playing together in the past few days and were enthusiastic about teaming up.

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The NBA landscape was altered in a big way last weekend when Kawhi Leonard decided to head for Los Angeles and the Clippers franchise in free agency after winning an NBA title in his only season with the Toronto Raptors.

Despite an excellent supporting cast that was due to return for the 2019-20 season and the passionate love of a city and an entire country, Leonard’s desire was to return home. With him, he’s bringing former OKC Thunder small forward Paul George with him. The Clippers agreed to send a bevy of draft picks to the Thunder in order to acquire the 2019 NBA MVP finalist’s services, pairing two of the league’s elite perimeter players together at the Staples Center.

Now, Oklahoma City is left with a dilemma. They don’t have the roster to compete for a championship or even the playoffs, but they still do have a superstar in Russell Westbrook. The 30-year-old point guard and former NBA MVP has shown few signs of slowing down, averaging a triple-double (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists) last season. The Thunder are reportedly looking to trade Westbrook and start a rebuild, and they have several suitors.

Nonetheless, we believe that the best fit for Russell Westbrook happens to be the team that Kawhi Leonard just left: the Toronto Raptors.

Raptors president Masai Ujiri has shown himself to be one of the league’s best roster constructors. He’s also shown an ability to make creative trades in order to land superstars, as he did for Kawhi Leonard, which means that he could probably find a way to free up enough salary cap space to make Russell Westbrook’s 4-year, $170 million contract work.

Now that Kawhi Leonard isn’t an option for a huge deal, the Raptors could find a way to add Westbrook’s salary to their roster. The supporting cast around him would be solid and would put the Raptors in instant contention to win the Eastern Conference yet again. Kyle Lowry and Westbrook would form a dynamic backcourt duo unrivaled by any other in the league.

On top of that, the Raptors have a solid base of big men to pair with a potential Westbrook addition. Still around from last year’s championship roster are Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, and young breakout star Pascal Siakam. While Leonard has moved on, it’s undeniable that the Raptors still have plenty of talent to make them competitive on their roster.

Toronto is looking for another star, and Russell Westbrook is the perfect fit for a reeling franchise that is trying to pick up the pieces after Kawhi Leonard’s disappointing departure. This move makes all the sense in the world, and both the Thunder and Raptors could end up being big winners in a potential deal for the All-Pro superstar.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder were cornered into making a franchise-altering decision when 2019 NBA MVP finalist Paul George asked them to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers to join up with Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

Now that George is heading out the door and Russell Westbrook is the only star left on a weakening OKC roster, it seems as if he could become the next player to bid adieu to the Thunder.

Multiple sources reported on the possibility of a Westbrook deal that would bring the point guard’s 11-year tenure with the Western Conference franchise to an end.

Westbrook has developed into one of the NBA’s best players since breaking into the league in 2008. During his time in OKC, he accumulated one of the most impressive resumes in the NBA over the past decade.

Westbrook was named NBA MVP in 2017, has been named twice to the NBA All-Pro first team, and six times to the second-team squad. He is an elite point guard who has shown little signs of slowing down at the age of 30.

It remains unclear which teams could potentially acquire Westbrook, but one team that immediately emerged as a potential destination has been the Miami Heat. The Southeast Conference team acquired Jimmy Butler earlier this offseason and could be looking for a superstar to pair with him.

For now, NBA fans must watch and wait to see what will become of Westbrook’s future in the league.

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