Clippers Trade Rumors: Steve Ballmer & Ty Lue’s Latest Plan Could Threaten Russell Westbrook’s LA Future

There is a bit of uncertainty about the LA Clippers roster going into next season. This is because the golden trio of James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard could not secure a Championship ring, and retaining them will cost the franchise a lot. So, certain changes are expected to be present on the horizon, amidst “(Russell) Westbrook’s still-to-be-determined status.” Something now seems to have gained more traction by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and coach Ty Lue, which could end up with Beastbrook possibly being out of the Clippers.

A few hours ago, NBA reporter Marc Stein released a report. In the same, he reported that several sources have informed him that the LA Clippers should be “added to the list of teams that could emerge as a suitor for potential free agent Chris Paul.” Another interesting addition would be the recent Philadelphia 76ers’ Kyle Lowry. Marc Stein has gone out of his way to state that both individuals “are veteran guards said to interest the Clippers”.

Chris Paul served as a point guard for the Suns for 3 seasons before switching to GSW. He was placed under a $30.8 million per season contract. And this is almost 8 and a half times more than what Russell Westbrook is earning with the Clippers. However, if the franchise makes the decision to get rid of even one member from the above-mentioned golden trio, along with Westbrook, then there will be enough money left to cover the pay of the 12x NBA All-Star.

At the same time, Kyle Lowry is a much cheaper option, having earned just $2.7 million during the 2023-24 season. Furthermore, having secured an average score of 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during the regular season games, his stat is just a bit lower than the one that Chris Paul recorded during the recent season.

In reality, the Clippers are currently in a precarious position. With Paul George under contract to be paid $48.7 million and James Harden possessing a salary cap of $53.46 million, the duo currently possesses some of the highest-paid salaries. Even if the two were excluded, the franchise is still expected to put out $113.9 million in salaries.

If all of this were combined, then the Clippers would face severe penalties for going above the recently implemented ‘Second Apron’ restriction. While getting rid of Russell Westbrook won’t put that much of a dent, however, it is him that the Clippers are allegedly targeting for a potential trade.

Russell Westbrook enjoyed “being in the trenches” in the 2023-24 season

Rumors about a potential Russell Westbrook trade began even before the Clippers’ tournament run ended. However, he made it clear that if even something like this occurred, it wouldn’t be his first option. After the Clippers were eliminated by the Mavs, Westbrook took a stand against media outlets who allegedly put out unusual stances on the roster, stating, “It’s a difficult time for a lot of people due to certain expectations that have been placed”. While he was upset that the Clippers could not secure a Championship, he expressed how grateful he was to have received this year with them.

“I felt that I was and remain more than willing to take on new roles, and make certain sacrifices in hope that it would make our team better,” said the Clippers player. “I hoped for a different outcome, but I also enjoyed being in the trenches with my teammates this year who have all been supportive of me throughout this season”.

When concluding his message, Westbrook stated that he would like to “come back better, stronger” and receive a position that would put him and the Clippers in a winnable position next season.

Steve Ballmer and Ty Lue have some big decisions to make that could impact the future of several NBA players. However, only time will tell whether a Russell Westbrook trade will be a part of that or not.