Why the LA Clippers Should Re-Sign Russell Westbrook
When Russell Westbrook signed with the LA Clippers after his buyout with the Utah Jazz, he was expected to fill a role that at most would feature him as a third option next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. By Game 3 of the playoffs, Westbrook was being asked to play a role much more like his MVP season than that of a third option.
Accepting and thriving in whatever role he was asked to play, Westbrook began winning over even his most committed critics. While there were initial questions about his fit alongside Leonard and George, which became amplified during the team's five-game losing streak that immediately followed his signing, Westbrook and the team slowly began silencing that noise while they figured each other out.
This is something Clippers guard Terance Mann recently spoke about on a podcast, saying the following:
"We lost [five] games straight when we got Russ. So it was tough for us to figure out exactly how to play together in a way. But it was just because we had a new roster. You have a whole new roster in the middle of the season, you gotta figure that sh-t out. It's not easy, especially when we played the Kings twice. The teams we were playing were really good. So it didn't help that we were playing top of the league teams at the same time. So it wasn't easy, but we had to figure it out, and I think we did figure it out towards the end. And then Paul George got hurt. So that was tough. Then we started to figure it out again in the playoffs. We won the first game vs. Phoenix, we thought we had them figured out, then Kawhi went down and it was tough."
The numbers affirm Mann's statement, particularly as it pertains to Westbrook's fit alongside Leonard and George. In their 132 minutes together following that five-game losing streak, the trio of Leonard, George, and Westbrook posted a +20.2 NTRG (point differential per 100 possessions). Including those five losses to start their time together, Leonard, George, and Westbrook still posted a +5.2 NTRG, which is very solid for a group that got just 10 games together.
Another element of Westbrook's time with the Clippers that gets overlooked, particularly during that five-game losing streak, is the absence of Ivica Zubac. Zubac missed four of those five losses to start Westbrook's time with the Clippers, which led to an increased role for Mason Plumlee, who really struggled defensively.
The quartet of Westbrook, Leonard, George, and Zubac played 138 minutes together last season, and posted a +13.5 NTRG, and a stifling 97.3 DRTG. It was a small sample size, but that group showed the potential to be lethal defensively.
When speaking about basketball fit, there's perhaps no better metric to look at than how Westbrook faired alongside Leonard, George, and Zubac. Unless something drastic happens, those are the only three starters expected to have solidified roles next season. If Westbrook were to return and start, he would be playing next to those three. In their time together last season, that group was dominant.
There is also an element to Westbrook's basketball fit on this Clippers team that goes beyond his paring with Leonard and George. An unfortunate reality for the Clippers, is that their two stars are almost certain to miss time. George played 56 games last season, which was his most as a Clipper, and Leonard played just 52. While the team certainly hopes that Leonard and George can be more available going forward, Westbrook not only provides the Clippers with consistent availability, but floor raising production in the absence of their two stars.
In the three games he played without Leonard and George last season, two of which came in the playoffs, Westbrook averaged 34.3 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 6.0 RPG on 58.5% from the field. While he should not be expected to maintain that production every time Leonard and George miss time, those numbers show what he's capable of when asked to run the show.
These are some of the basketball reasons why the Clippers should prioritize re-signing Westbrook this summer, but his impact on this team goes far beyond what happens on the court. From Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Ty Lue down to LA's rookies, everyone in the Clippers' locker room last season spoke about how important Westbrook was as a leader and culture setter immediately upon his arrival.
Anyone who watched the Clippers for much of last season could sense a lack of urgency that persisted far too often. Whether this was actual complacency or simply the product of a veteran and injury-riddled team is hard to say, but it's a dynamic that drastically shifted upon Westbrook's arrival. According to Ty Lue, this began with Westbrook's leadership in practice.
Pushing his new teammates to go harder in practice, Westbrook raised the team's intensity and focus level, which is something Lue said was huge for them. Several teammates spoke openly about this, along with the overall joy that Westbrook brought to the locker room.
"I like it a lot. It's way better than I thought it would be," Clippers center Ivica Zubac said when asked about Westbrook before a practice. "He's a great leader also. He's very vocal, which is something we needed… He has a great attitude, he's always smiling, always laughing, and being very positive. I'm super excited he's here."
Westbrook was also huge for LA's young players like Bones Hyland, who said after a game in late-March that Westbrook is always in his ear. This is a role Westbrook not only embraced, but saw as part of his job.
"Like I said when I got here, part of my job and something that I strive for is leadership," Westbrook said when asked about Hyland's comments. "I love to see other people do well. I really, really enjoy it... Terance, everybody, my job is to make sure regardless of what's going on, I'm making sure I'm keeping guys together, keeping the spirits high."
Westbrook committed to this role whether he was closing games or watching from the bench. Lue spoke often about how much easier Westbrook made his job by always being a positive voice on the bench, even on nights when his role diminished. Never having to worry about Westbrook being upset with his role, Lue knew that if he wasn't on the court, he'd be leading from the bench.
Qualities like these are irreplaceable in many ways. Like Westbrook said after the Clippers were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns, he makes mistakes like anybody else, but he also does a lot of things other players can't do. While he was mostly speaking about his ability on the court, the sentiment can also be applied to who he is as a leader.
Everything that's been discussed in this article is why Clippers' President Lawrence Frank said the team wants Westbrook back. But is a deal even possible? The Clippers are limited in what they can offer Westbrook, but Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report recently reported that LA hopes to re-sign Westbrook on a one-year $3.8M deal, with the intention of giving him a bigger contract next summer with Early Bird Rights.
Whether Westbrook would be open to this is unknown, but for all the reasons just discussed, it's something the Clippers need to pursue regardless of who else they acquire - even if it's Chris Paul.
With reports circulating about LA's interest in Paul over the last few days, some have wondered whether the team may prefer him over Westbrook. A recent report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski indicated that the Clippers don't see this as a Paul or Westbrook situation, but potentially an opportunity to pair them together. There's understandable questions about a Paul-Westbrook point guard rotation, but it would undoubtedly be better than what the Clippers opened last season with.
The bottom line is that Westbrook provides the Clippers with too much that they cannot find elsewhere. He's a vocal leader on a team that needs intensity, he's always available for a team that needs consistency, and his limited time alongside LA's rotation pillars showed real reason for optimism. If Westbrook is open to returning, the Clippers need to find a way to make it happen.
