Westbrook’s role took on a different spotlight when he was lost to a fractured hand in March, a period that saw the Clippers go 6-6 and lose five straight games at home. But upon Westbrook’s return, the Clippers went on a stretch where they won seven of eight games, culminating in the future Hall of Famer’s lone triple-double of the season while starting in place of Harden at Phoenix. Even when Westbrook saw success after his return, he often mentioned how he felt he could play more, and he did not speak to reporters at any point after the regular season ended. Does the nine-time All-Star and former MVP want to continue in this kind of limited role while playing on a veteran’s minimum deal, or might he have played his way into a better opportunity elsewhere? Considering the challenges that came with him being relegated to a reserve role, with team and league sources indicating that the process was far more challenging behind the scenes than team officials had made it appear publicly, the answer may very well be the latter.
Source: The Athletic