Nick Crain | 2/20/23

The NBA trade deadline is always one of the most pivotal points in the NBA season. Each year as players are moved across the league, we see a more active situation reflective of a continual increase of player mobility that’s currently at an all-time high.

One of the more impactful trades of the recent window was Russell Westbrook being sent from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz. The 34-year-old is still the type of player that can make a significant impact on winning, but has to be used the right way. Given he doesn’t fit what the Jazz were looking to do, Westbrook was recently bought out which cleared the way for him to choose which team he wanted to sign with out the buyout market. He ultimately chose the LA Clippers, where he’ll get to once again get to play alongside former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Paul George.

It’s still unclear what type of role Westbrook will play with the Clippers, but it’s safe to assume he will be a regular part of the rotation. Along with George, he will have the luxury of also playing with Kawhi Leonard. Outside of those two, it’s important that Westbrook fits in with the remainder of the roster. Using the Athledex software, ProFitX is able to help identify which of his new teammates he fits best with individually.

One of the players he is expected to fit extremely well with Norman Powell. In theory, a bench unit with Westbrook and Powell would be a major offensive spark plug. Furthermore, ProFitX projects Westbrook to also have great synergy with Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum and Marcus Morris. It appears he should have no problem fitting in with the veterans on the team.

Offensively, the fit could be tricky with the Clippers. They’ve built a roster full of shooters, which is not something Westbrook has been efficient in at this point in his career. With that in mind, he should be able to get open looks with how much help defenders will have to stick to their respective assignments. Everything is relative in the NBA, so a lower fit rating could simply be due to projected role on a new team.

The Clippers are a top ten defense in the league to this point, as that end of the floor is a top priority for the team. As Westbrook joins the roster, he will need to ensure he’s locked in. There’s no question he has the athletic ability and defensive IQ to be a productive defender with the Clippers, especially if he’s playing fewer minutes and will be fresh.

Given Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are fantastic scorers and playmakers, Westbrook shouldn’t be asked to be a primary offensive source for the Clippers. While he should be able to generate assists like he always has, there’s others on the team that will also have the ball in their hands quite a bit. If the Clippers are going to be successful, Westbrook will likely need to embrace a complimentary role.

Overall, the data would suggest Westbrook could take some time to truly mesh with the Clippers. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t be a highly impactful player by the end of the season when it matters most.