After nearly two weeks of uncertainty, it appears former MVP Russell Westbrook will not play for the Utah Jazz after all.
The nine-time All-Star will instead finalize a buyout with Utah and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN reported Monday. The Jazz were set to owe Westbrook $16 million if he played, but this buyout figures to lower that figure.
Since Westbrook was traded from the Lakers to the Jazz on Feb. 8 as part of a three-team deal, a buyout was always the most likely conclusion. With the Jazz rebuilding, the 34-year-old veteran was unlikely to be part of franchise’s long-term plans.
Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said he had been transparent with Westbrook about what his role might be if he decided to remain in Utah. Zanik indicated Westbrook was open to the possibility.
On paper, though, the Clippers appear to be a better destination. Westbrook will likely play a key role for a playoff-level team. Clippers All-Star Paul George has also expressed a desire to play with Westbrook. As an added benefit, the guard will be able to stay in Los Angeles.
Westbrook was also considering the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards as potential landing spots, per ESPN.
With Westbrook now gone, the Jazz can move forward with a young group for the final sprint of the season. The team is expected to give guards Collin Sexton and Talen Horton-Tucker an extended evaluation period to see if they can become pieces of a contending roster.
Without Mike Conley, who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team trade, those guards will be allowed more time as the primary ball handler.
Also with Westbrook’s departure, the Jazz’s deadline trade is now bookended. Officially, the Jazz lost Conley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and two second-round picks. In exchange, they received the Lakers’ 2027 top-4 protected first-round pick along with Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones.
The protected first-round pick remains the key piece of the trade from Utah’s perspective.
