Russell Westbrook Expected To Exit Clippers With Nuggets Considered Frontrunners If He Becomes Free Agent

[RealGM Wiretap]

Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Clippers continue to plan on parting ways this offseason even though he remains in limbo, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. Westbrook exercised his $4 million player option with the Clippers on the eve of free agency. The Denver Nuggets are considered the frontrunner to sign Westbrook should he be waived by the Clippers and become a free agent. The Clippers, however, continue to pursue trade possibilities involving Westbrook. 

Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists for LA last season. He finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting after playing 57 of his 68 games off the bench for the Clippers.

Westbrook is represented by Jeff Schwartz.

Via Shams Charania/The Athletic

[Rek]

Stupid of him to exercise that option.

Should have just opted out so he could pursue a new deal with whatever team he preferred.

It's not like any team is tossing substantial money at him in any scenario.

[TheSundaySwami]

Stupid of him to exercise that option.

Should have just opted out so he could pursue a new deal with whatever team he preferred.

It's not like any team is tossing substantial money at him in any scenario.

The whole point of him opting in is he knew no one would throw substantial money at him lol. Doing it this way he likely makes twice as much if not more than he would've made had he entered free agency and now a team either trades for him which means he's wanted there so likely also wants to go there or he's waived and then ends up with his top choice

[Rek]

Stupid of him to exercise that option.

Should have just opted out so he could pursue a new deal with whatever team he preferred.

It's not like any team is tossing substantial money at him in any scenario.

The whole point of him opting in is he knew no one would throw substantial money at him lol. Doing it this way he likely makes twice as much if not more than he would've made had he entered free agency and now a team either trades for him which means he's wanted there so likely also wants to go there or he's waived and then ends up with his top choice

Given how much Russ has already earned over his career, he has limited his options by opting in just to get 1 or 2 million extra this season. If he had just opted out, he could have already agreed to a vet min deal with a team of his choosing for an amount that isn't really significantly less than his opt-in amount. Furthermore, he's now dependent upon a trade coming to fruition while every team is extremely careful about any trades due to the hard capping issues and so forth.

Yes, if he is waived then he is free. But, he can't control that. Hence, foolish decision imo. It was only a 4 million $ option. It's not like he locked in some massive amount for himself.

[Pickled Prunes]

Stupid of him to exercise that option.

Should have just opted out so he could pursue a new deal with whatever team he preferred.

It's not like any team is tossing substantial money at him in any scenario.

The whole point of him opting in is he knew no one would throw substantial money at him lol. Doing it this way he likely makes twice as much if not more than he would've made had he entered free agency and now a team either trades for him which means he's wanted there so likely also wants to go there or he's waived and then ends up with his top choice

Given how much Russ has already earned over his career, he has limited his options by opting in just to get 1 or 2 million extra this season. If he had just opted out, he could have already agreed to a vet min deal with a team of his choosing for an amount that isn't really significantly less than his opt-in amount. Furthermore, he's now dependent upon a trade coming to fruition while every team is extremely careful about any trades due to the hard capping issues and so forth.

Yes, if he is waived then he is free. But, he can't control that. Hence, foolish decision imo. It was only a 4 million $ option. It's not like he locked in some massive amount for himself.

Well, the vet minimum for players with 10+ years in the league is $3.3M... so we're talking about $0.7m for a guy that has made $340m on the court, not counting endorsements... so, nothing.

What we do know is that if a team signs Westbrook for a one year minimum ($3.3M), the team will only pay about $2m and the NBA will pay the difference. Russ would have had more options as a FA than he does in a trade.