Highlights

• The Los Angeles Clippers will look to remain aggressive after shedding Paul George in free company.
• Russell Westbrook could also be on the commerce block as LA makes an attempt to rebuild its roster.
• Westbrook continues to be a dependable scorer and playmaker who ought to see commerce curiosity this offseason.

With the Los Angeles Clippers shedding Paul George in free company, they nonetheless have many choices to make concerning their roster for subsequent season.

They re-signed James Harden , protecting him with Kawhi Leonard because the workforce’s new dynamic duo. Additionally they signed Derrick Jones Jr. , Kevin Porter Jr. and Nicolas Batum in free company.

With these strikes, the Clippers nonetheless anticipate to compete within the Western Convention subsequent season, however with the Philadelphia 76ers signing George, Los Angeles misplaced a key piece of its roster from final season.

One participant who could also be on the transfer out of L.A. this summer time is Russell Westbrook . Westbrook opted into his $4 million participant possibility, avoiding free company. In response to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Clippers want to transfer Westbrook this offseason.

Final season, Westbrook averaged profession lows in factors and assists per sport whereas adjusting to his new position because the Clippers’ sixth man.

In 68 video games, he averaged 11.1 factors, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He additionally shot 45.4 p.c from the sector and completed seventh within the Sixth Man of the 12 months award race on the finish of the season. The previous MVP is now 35 years outdated and now not the participant he as soon as was.

Regardless of the robust season final yr, there ought to be some groups that can present curiosity in Westbrook if the Clippers do determine to commerce him. He’s now not the explosive triple-double machine that he was throughout his youthful days within the NBA, however Westbrook may nonetheless be a key a part of a workforce seeking to compete for a championship subsequent season.

Listed below are three potential commerce locations for the previous MVP.

1 Denver Nuggets

Nuggets pair former MVPs collectively

After successful the championship two seasons in the past, the Denver Nuggets had championship aspirations as soon as once more final season.

However they had been eradicated within the second spherical of the playoffs after blowing a 20-point second-half lead in Sport 7 to the Minnesota Timberwolves .

To make issues worse, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope determined to signal with the Orlando Magic in free company, leaving a gap in Denver’s beginning lineup.

With now three-time MVP Nikola Jokic nonetheless taking part in like the perfect participant within the NBA, Denver can nonetheless compete subsequent season with a core of Jokic, Jamal Murray , Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. .

The Nuggets want so as to add a backup level guard to their roster after buying and selling away Reggie Jackson , and including Westbrook would do exactly that.

On this mock commerce, the Nuggets would ship Zeke Nnaji and a 2026 second-round decide to the Clippers in alternate for Westbrook.

Though Westbrook is now not the MVP-caliber participant that he as soon as was, he ought to slot in completely in Denver.

He could be the Nuggets’ sixth man, offering scoring and playmaking off the bench. With the Nuggets nonetheless a prime workforce within the West, including Westbrook would assist them compete for his or her second championship in three seasons subsequent yr.

The Clippers would purchase Nnaji and a 2026 second-round decide.

L.A. mustn’t look to obtain an enormous commerce bundle for Westbrook attributable to his age and decline in play. Nnaji is a stable backup large man who would assist the Clippers’ second unit at each ends of the court docket.

Though he averaged simply 3.2 factors per sport final season, he has been a dependable scorer in restricted minutes in earlier seasons.

Though including Nnaji wouldn’t make up for shedding George, the Clippers would add one other large off their bench to assist them compete subsequent season.

2 Miami Warmth

Warmth add one other level guard

After making the NBA Finals two seasons in the past, the Miami Warmth had excessive expectations final season. As a substitute, they had been eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by the eventual champion Boston Celtics , main many to query whether or not the Warmth ought to attempt to run it again subsequent season or begin a rebuild.

Miami has opted to run it again, signing Bam Adebayo to an extension and protecting Jimmy Butler regardless of many commerce rumors. Miami has not made a variety of strikes this offseason aside from deciding on Kel’el Ware fifteenth total within the draft.

The Warmth do want so as to add one other level guard this offseason, which may find yourself being Westbrook.

On this deal, the Warmth would ship Duncan Robinson and a 2031 second round-pick to the Clippers for Westbrook and P.J. Tucker .

The Clippers have been seeking to commerce Westbrook and Tucker this offseason, so transferring them each in a single commerce could be a win for L.A.

Westbrook could be an awesome possibility for Miami as both the place to begin guard or the backup. After buying Terry Rozier ultimately season’s commerce deadline, they might hold him as their starter or transfer him to the bench.

Westbrook and Tucker would add veteran management to a workforce stuffed with it whereas additionally including a scoring and defensive punch off the bench.

Though this transfer might not make Miami the favourite within the East, they’ll nonetheless threaten many groups on the prime of the convention.

The Clippers would add Robinson, who would probably come off of the bench. Robinson bounced again final season after a down yr in 2022-23.

He averaged 12.9 factors and shot 39.5 p.c from three in Miami final season, which might translate properly to L.A. By buying Robinson, the Clippers would add one other bench scorer to assist them compete within the robust Western Convention.

3 Phoenix Suns

Suns reunite Durant with Westbrook

The Phoenix Suns had championship expectations with their new large three of Kevin Durant , Devin Booker and Bradley Beal final season.

As a substitute, they had been swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves within the first spherical of the playoffs, main many to query whether or not the trio would work. Phoenix has been content material with protecting the All-Stars collectively for a minimum of yet one more season, turning down commerce rumors surrounding its large three.

With the Suns working it again, they do want to seek out a place to begin guard after missing one final season. They used Booker and Beal as their primary level guards final season, which didn’t work out as they’d hoped.

One other space they should enhance on is their protection. Regardless of Phoenix being an awesome scoring workforce, their protection was lackluster. By making a deal for Westbrook this summer time, they might enhance in each of those areas.

On this commerce, the Suns would ship Nassir Little and a 2028 second-round decide to the Clippers for Westbrook.

The Suns would pair Westbrook and Durant as soon as once more. Regardless of their feud after Durant determined to go away the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to affix the Golden State Warriors in 2016, the duo was probably the greatest within the league throughout its time in OKC.

Though Westbrook shouldn’t be the MVP-caliber participant that he as soon as was, with him subsequent to Phoenix’s large three, he would have the ability to return to his regular place to begin guard position and proceed to be probably the greatest playmakers within the NBA at age 35.

With this addition to their roster, the Suns could be a workforce to beat within the West subsequent season so long as they keep wholesome.

The Clippers would add a younger ahead in Little. Little continues to be simply 24 years outdated and has proven flashes that he might be a stable position participant within the league.

He has struggled with accidents throughout his profession, taking part in in additional than 50 video games simply as soon as over 5 seasons, however when he’s wholesome, he’s a stable scorer and defender off of the bench.

He would see extra minutes in L.A. and assist the Clippers compete within the loaded convention.

With the Clippers shedding George in free company, they nonetheless have many choices to make this offseason. A type of is whether or not to commerce Westbrook.

In the event that they do commerce Westbrook, he ought to see some curiosity from groups needing a degree guard this offseason.

Though he’s now not the MVP-caliber participant he as soon as was, Westbrook continues to be an awesome scorer and playmaker who may help many contenders compete for a championship subsequent season.