The Los Angeles Clippers were looking for a point guard, and they just got the best one available.
Russell Westbrook will be an offensive catalyst and a never-ending source of energy that will take the ball up the court after every rebound.
However, as good a player as Westbrook is, there are — again — some questions about his fit with his new team.
The Clippers were reportedly looking for an off-the-ball kind of point guard, noting that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George would have the ball in their hands most of the time.
They also wanted someone who could either stretch the floor with his shooting or improve their point-of-attack defense, and Westbrook does neither of those things.
That’s why ESPN’s Zach Lowe believes that if the Clippers intend to let Westbrook be Westbrook, this could be an all-time risky gamble for the team:
.@ZachLowe_NBA says acquiring Russell Westbrook “qualifies as one of the biggest late-season gambles in the history of the NBA,” if he's going to start and have the ball all the time. pic.twitter.com/4Y6NYqKcaH
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 23, 2023
Truth be told, having the Westbrook of old might not be what the Clippers need right now.
But great players usually figure things out, and he already knows what it’s like to play with Paul George.
In fact, PG-13 advocated for his signing, stating that he had the best season of his career playing by his side.
Also, the Clippers need someone who’s available often, and Westbrook rarely misses games.
Kawhi Leonard is still a bit of a part-time player, and PG has also struggled with injuries, so that’s another plus of having him around.
It’ll be interesting to see how this pans out, but it could either be glorious or disastrous.
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