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LA Clippers: Pass or Pursue on 5 Point Guard Targets

By Seth Kimbrell

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Russell Westbrook
LA Clippers Russell Westbrook (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

In the run up to free agency, the LA Clippers have been linked in rumors to several playmakers. We play pass or pursue with five of the rumored point guards.

In the past couple of weeks, the LA Clippers have been rumored to be linked to several point guards. Here, we play a little game of “pass or pursue?”

We’ll take a look at five of the point guards we’re alleged to have interest in or be talking about, and discuss whether the Clippers should pass on that player or pursue them. Let’s start with the most recent rumor:

The LA Clippers should pass on Russell Westbrook

The most recent rumor alleges that there is mutual interest between the LA Clippers and Houston Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook. Whether or not this is true, there are many reasons the Clips should pass on this deal.

The 32 year old point guard is in the third year of a mammoth contract that will pay him $41.3 Million this year. You have to assume he’ll pick up his player option at the age of 34, so you’re looking at the Clips paying him $47 Million 2 years from now. Bye bye to any flexibility the Clippers would want to have.

That money will also make the trade nearly impossible. We’d be looking either at shipping out Paul George or combining so many pieces alongside a Montrezl Harrell sign and trade (which he would have to agree to) that we’d be left with three stars and not much else.

Russ is a very good player. But he just doesn’t fit on the Clippers. He wants to dominate the ball and be the floor general on offense, which would neuter Kawhi’s offensive impact. His three point shooting is abysmal. He’s shot above 30% from deep only one time in the last 6 years, and he’s jacked up 2,162 threes in the regular season in that timespan. On defense, Russ’ best days are far behind him, so opposing ballhandlers would have an easy time getting open looks.

It just doesn’t work from the Clippers’ perspective. Trading for Westbrook would be the ultimate win-now move, but one that isn’t clear it would actually help us win now. For those reasons, the Clippers should pass.

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