Insider reveals next priority for Clippers after trading Westbrook

When the LA Clippers traded for James Harden last October, it changed the very fabric of this team from day one. Forced to give up his starting point guard job, Russell Westbrook's usefulness diminished significantly, ultimately culminating in his eventual trade on Thursday.

Several role players were sent out in the Harden trade, leaving the Clippers short on wings and with a smaller rotation overall. Tyronn Lue and the coaching staff made do with what they had, but it was clearly a factor that played into them losing in round one of the playoffs.

Now, ironically, the Clippers got Nic Batum back after losing him in the trade for Harden. Additionally, they made several other free agency moves that should go a long way toward lengthening their rotation and helping overall depth.

With Russell Westbrook now out of the picture, there seems to be a logical next step that the Clippers want to take. According to NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, LA's next priority will be finding P.J. Tucker a new home (subscription required).

The Clippers want to move on from P.J. Tucker

Marks wrote in a Friday article that following Russ' departure, moving on from Tucker is the next task the front office hopes to accomplish. This should come as no surprise to those who followed along with all that happened with Tucker this past season.

After his playing time saw a sharp decline toward the end of the 2023 calendar year, P.J. became very frustrated with his role and verbally expressed his desire for change after the team failed to trade him at the deadline. He was even sent home by the Clippers during a February road trip to the Golden State Warriors.

Currently the second-oldest player in the association, there are simply not as many teams that are willing to play Tucker 25 minutes a night as there were six years ago. But given his $11.5 million player option for next season, the Clippers were hesitant to negotiate a buyout.

Ideally, LA's front office can find a suitor in the near future. Much of the Clippers' fanbase has expressed frustration with how Tucker has handled his situation in Los Angeles, and a change of scenery is likely best for both parties.