2 Clippers who earned untouchable status, 2 who could be cut loose

Could be cut loose: Russell Westbrook

The public perception of Russell Westbrook was a bit messy not too long ago. When he played on the Lakers, Westbrook's production was admittedly down, and he did not perform up to his previous stanadards. But the way he was relentlessly criticized and even scapegoated for the Lakers' shortcoming was a bit alarming, leading many to wonder if he was really as big a problem as everyone in Laker Land claimed he was.

As it turns out, there was some exaggeration on the part of the Purple and Gold, or perhaps it was just a bad situation for the former MVP. When Russ joined the Clippers in February 2023, he enjoyed a resurgence and got back to playing at a meaningful level, helping the Clippers reach the playoffs and even logging a game-winning block on Devin Booker in the playoffs.

But unfortunately, the fates began to shift for Westbrook once again once James Harden ended up in Los Angeles. Russ' playing time went down, and he was forced back to coming off the bench. With his role more fluid and less defined, Westbrook struggled for much of the 2023-24 season. His play was not nearly as crucial for the Clippers last year as it was the previous year, and he could absolutely be sent elsewhere this summer.