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LA Clippers: 3 reasons Russell Westbrook could work for the contending Clippers

By Elliot Reeder

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 30, 2023 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Lakers 121-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 30, 2023 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Lakers 121-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Russell Westbrook (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Russell Westbrook (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1. He’s a bonafide point guard

One of the biggest issues most people had with the Clippers’ moves at the trade deadline was that it left them without a bonafide point guard. The Clips dealt away two of their point guards in John Wall and Reggie Jackson. While they received Bones Hyland in one of their trades, Hyland is a combo guard as much as anything. Also, even though he has very high potential, I don’t think Hyland is ready yet to be the top point guard for a championship-contending team.

Terrence Mann has also been running some point for the Clippers recently, but I believe the Clippers would be happiest with Mann splitting duties between serving as a backup point guard at times and then also playing on the wing. The addition of Westbrook should also allow Hyland to continue to develop, but not be thrown into a situation where the team needs the 22-year-old to play a ton of minutes before he’s ready.

Westbrook also joins a Clippers team that is 25th in the league in assists per game. While LAC plays a lot of different players at different positions, they could really use more at the point guard position.

The addition of Westbrook should help stabilize the Clippers’ rotation. If Westbrook emerges as the team’s starting PG, then the healthy starting lineup would look like Westbrook-George-Leonard-Morris-Zubac. Then LAC would have the likes of Mann, Nicolas Batum, Norman Powell, and Eric Gordon off the bench. Mason Plumlee, Hyland, and Robert Covington would be other options at the backend of the rotation as well.

Westbrook manning the point guard spot also frees up Mann to play on the wing to give Tyronn Lue more flexibility when the Clippers go small with someone like Batum or Morris running the 5. At the end of the day, Westbrook gives the Clippers a legitimate point guard, which would also give the team more flexibility throughout the rest of their lineup and rotation.