The Los Angeles Clippers recently signed Russell Westbrook, and there are a lot of people that believe this could be a difference-making move for the franchise. The point guard is well-known for his slashing ability, playmaking, and rebounding, and there is no doubt that Westbrook could be a good addition to the Clippers due to them having a large number of shooters on the team.
With that being said, there are still some who doubt that Russell Westbrook will be a good fit for the Los Angeles Clippers. One of those people is Skip Bayless, who has frequently been a Russell Westbrook critic in recent memory.
Recently, Skip Bayless brought up Kawhi Leonard refusing to return Russell Westbrook’s call in 2019, suggesting that the point guard knows it’s a bad idea to sign Russell Westbrook. The analyst subsequently suggested that Paul George wanted him on the team, seemingly alluding to the fact that George had his best individual year with Westbrook.
I can't believe Kawhi is happy with adding Russ. Remember when Kawhi wouldn't even return Russ' call and opted to take Paul George with him to the Clippers? Kawhi has to know this is a really bad idea. Unfortunately, PG clings to the fact HE had his best yr as Russ' co-star.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 20, 2023
I can’t believe Kawhi is happy with adding Russ. Remember when Kawhi wouldn’t even return Russ’ call and opted to take Paul George with him to the Clippers? Kawhi has to know this is a really bad idea. Unfortunately, PG clings to the fact HE had his best yr as Russ’ co-star.
There is no doubt that Paul George was clear in expressing his desire to add Russell Westbrook to the roster, but other Clippers players, such as Nicolas Batum, also expressed similar opinions on signing the point guard. It is clear that there was positive sentiment about the potential signing from multiple players, but it is unclear if Kawhi Leonard was one of them.
Russell Westbrook is at the stage of his career where he is more willing to take a smaller role, and perhaps that will help him succeed with the Los Angeles Clippers. He has the opportunity to win a championship with the Los Angeles Clippers, and perhaps Westbrook is the missing piece that puts them over the top.
Kawhi Leonard And Paul George Met With Russell Westbrook Prior To His Signing
Prior to Russell Westbrook signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, he had a meeting with stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It is clear that this signing wouldn’t have happened if the stars weren’t fully onboard.
As The Athletic reported Thursday, LA received permission to speak to Westbrook and talks have started among franchise officials. In that meeting, the two parties communicated what Westbrook’s role could be. Westbrook is set to meet with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in the near future as he continues to mull over his options prior to the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline.
For Russell Westbrook, this is an opportunity to rebuild his image in the league and prove that he can be a point guard on a championship team. Signing him was definitely a risk for the Los Angeles Clippers since they already had a good team, and a new signing could derail chemistry. Given Russell Westbrook’s talent, however, it is easy to see why they added him to the roster.
There is no doubt that this Los Angeles Clippers team has a high ceiling, and we’ll see how far they get in the playoffs. At the end of the day, they have three future Hall of Famers on the roster, and they could easily compete against any Western Conference team in a series.
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