Free agent level guard Russell Westbrook had a roller-coaster 2022–23 season. He began the season with the Los Angeles Lakers however was later traded to the Utah Jazz in an enormous commerce deadline deal after being blamed for his or her struggles. He was later waived by the Jazz and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
There, Westbrook performed surprisingly nicely, averaging a formidable 15.8 factors on 48.9% capturing, 7.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per sport. He helped the Clippers compete regardless of having their two greatest gamers miss time. Regardless of his resurgent run with the Clippers, a current rumor means that he could not return subsequent season. In actual fact, the New York Knicks look like the leaders to land him.
Will the Knicks land Russell Westbrook this summer time?
The Knicks are coming off their greatest season in a decade and got here inside two video games of the Jap Convention Finals. Whereas they have already got Jalen Brunson, who was arguably their greatest participant this season, Westbrook should still be capable of assist. For all of his flaws, he confirmed a willingness to play completely different roles and remains to be greater than able to large performances that may swing video games.
If Westbrook is de facto prepared to go away the Clippers, the Knicks may use a participant like that as they attempt to construct on their success subsequent season. There might be one potential barrier to him becoming a member of the Knicks, nevertheless. Based on Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Westbrook might be searching for across the full mid-level exception (MLE), which is about $12 million a season, one thing that neither the Knicks nor Clippers can provide.
Only some groups have sufficient cap house or the total MLE, and most of them are rebuilding, which means they in all probability wouldn’t have an curiosity in Westbrook. That limits his decisions to playoff groups, a lot of whom solely have the tax-payer MLE, value about $5 million. If that’s the case, then the Clippers nonetheless have an opportunity and even one other crew such because the Miami Warmth.
All in all, evidently Westbrook could not return to the Clippers subsequent season regardless of thriving in his brief stint there. That would pave the best way for a crew such because the Knicks or one other playoff crew to signal him.
