NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook Picks Up $4M Contract Option; Clippers Future Undecided

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook exercised his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season on Saturday, avoiding free agency in the process.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the move.

However, Law Murray and Jenna West of The Athletic reported “it is still undetermined whether Westbrook will be on the team’s 2024-25 roster.”

Westbrook joined the Clippers during the 2022-23 season and re-signed last offseason on a below-market deal. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season.

Expected to serve as the Clippers’ starting point guard when he initially signed the contract, Westbrook was moved to the bench after the team acquired James Harden.

“Just going out and doing whatever is best for our team to be able to win games, and that’s it,” Westbrook said. “The ultimate goal is to win games. That’s all I can do. Go out and compete and make sure we try to win games.”

The Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs as injuries once again derailed their postseason.

Harden and Paul George (who has a $48.8 million player option that must be decided on by the end of Saturday) are set for free agency this summer, so the franchise feels in a state of flux. Kawhi Leonard re-signed to a three-year extension, but the Clippers were not able to reach long-term deals with two of their other future Hall of Famers.

George’s status remains the biggest dilemma for the Clippers going into free agency. He is reportedly seeking a four-year max deal, but the team has so far been unwilling to offer him that.

Westbrook seemingly returning on a $4 million salary is nothing short of a boon for the Clippers and their future luxury tax payments.