Lakers Westbrook Basketball

Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is exercising his option to play for $47.1 million next season, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said Tuesday. Ashley Landis/Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is exercising his option to play for $47.1 million next season, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said Tuesday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither Westbrook – a past NBA MVP and one of the league’s top 75 all-time players – nor the Lakers revealed the decision publicly. ESPN first reported Westbrook’s decision.

It certainly was not a surprise, considering Westbrook would not have commanded anywhere near $47.1 million for this coming season had he chosen to become a free agent. He’ll turn 34 next season, his 15th in the NBA.

Westbrook had until Wednesday to make up his mind on the option, which will make this the fifth and final season of a $207 million contract he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The nine-time All-Star has been well-traveled since — he was traded to Houston in 2019, traded to Washington in 2020 and was moved to the Lakers in 2021.

That created what was supposed to be a great trio: Westbrook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It didn’t work out anywhere near as planned. The Lakers were dogged by injuries all season, missed the playoffs, fired Coach Frank Vogel after the season and Westbrook has taken much of the blame for what happened.

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He averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 78 games with the Lakers. Only four other players — two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of Denver, James Harden of Philadelphia, Luka Doncic of Dallas and Dejounte Murray of San Antonio — finished the season with higher averages than Westbrook had in those three stat categories.

But his scoring average was his lowest since 2009-10, and his 3-point percentage — 29.8% — ranked 251st out of 278 NBA players who attempted at least 100 shots from beyond the arc this season.

CAVALIERS: Cleveland made the expected move and extended a qualifying offer to guard Collin Sexton, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Sexton is now a restricted free agent and the high-energy scorer could draw interest from other teams. If Sexton receives an offer sheet, the Cavs can match it.

Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Thursday.

A first-round pick in 2018, Sexton played in just 11 games last season before tearing meniscus in his right knee and undergoing surgery. The 23-year-old had been playing well and seemed to accept a lesser scoring role alongside All-Star Darius Garland.

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JAZZ: Boston Celtics assistant Will Hardy has accepted an offer to become the coach of the Utah Jazz, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

Hardy and the Jazz were in the process of finalizing contract language, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Hardy will become an NBA head coach for the first time. He will replace Quin Snyder, who decided to leave the Jazz earlier this month after eight seasons.
ESPN and The Athletic first reported the agreement between Hardy and the Jazz.

Hardy spent one season in Boston, helping the Celtics reach the NBA Finals. His previous 11 seasons were spent with the San Antonio Spurs, starting as a basketball operations intern, moving into the video room and eventually becoming an assistant under all-time wins leader and five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich.

Hardy also assisted Popovich during USA Basketball’s appearances at the 2019 Basketball World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hardy left San Antonio for Boston to work for another former Spurs assistant, Ime Udoka, who took the Celtics to the finals in his first season as a head coach.

And given the success of the Popovich coaching tree in the NBA, it’s no wonder the Jazz decided Hardy was the right hire.

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Consider the roster of current NBA and WNBA coaches who have played for, worked for, coached under Popovich, or some combination thereof.

Golden State’s Steve Kerr just won his fourth title as a coach – beating Udoka, Hardy and the Celtics in that series – and ninth championship overall.

Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA title. Phoenix’s Monty Williams guided the Suns to the NBA’s best record this season and made the finals last year. Memphis’ Taylor Jenkins led the Grizzlies to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference this season. Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers has won an NBA title, Sacramento’s Mike Brown went to the NBA Finals in his second season as a head coach in Cleveland and Becky Hammon has the Las Vegas Aces off to the best start in the WNBA in her first season.

Clearly, those who learn from Popovich know how to win.

And Hardy has had the can’t-miss coaching label on him for some time.

“It’s always just been about being selfless,” Hardy said while appearing at a Rising Coaches seminar last year. “Coach Pop says all the time: `Get over yourself. It ain’t about you.'”

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Utah was the only team in the NBA with a coaching vacancy and became the fourth team to complete a hiring since the regular season ended. Sacramento hired Brown, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Darvin Ham, Charlotte brought back Steve Clifford for a second stint and now the Jazz are turning their team over to the 34-year-old Hardy, who is younger than some players in the NBA.

Hardy also inherits a roster that’s capable of winning.

The Jazz are one of three teams to make the playoffs in each of the last six seasons; Boston (with eight) and Milwaukee (six) are the others. Utah won 49 games this season and Snyder went 372-264 with the Jazz.

But he decided he needed a change, and Utah set out on its process. The Jazz talked to several assistants from all over the NBA before selecting Hardy, who will become only the fourth Utah coach in a span of 33 years – following Jerry Sloan, Tyrone Corbin and Snyder.

CLIPPERS: The Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a contract extension with center Ivica Zubac.

The team had declined its $7.5 million option on the 25-year-old from Croatia, setting up the new deal that keeps the 7-footer as the club’s longest-tenured player.

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Zubac started 76 games last season, averaging career highs in points (10.3), rebounds (8.5), assists (1.6) and blocked shots (1.0). His 25 double-doubles were a career-best and the most for a Clippers player since 2017-18.

He spent his first two seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

KNICKS-PISTONS: The New York Knicks are trading Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks to the Detroit Pistons, a person with knowledge of the details said, moves that free up nearly $20 million more for free agency.

Having already agreed to send Kemba Walker to the Pistons on draft night, the Knicks have shed nearly $30 million in salary for next season in advance of free agency opening Thursday night.

The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade would not become official Tuesday. It was first reported by ESPN, which said the Knicks would also send the Pistons two second-round picks and cash.

Burks, who replaced Walker in the starting lineup last season, is due to make $10 million next season. Noel, who battled injuries throughout the season, and Walker are both slated to earn slightly above $9 million.

The Knicks will take that shopping, with the Dallas Mavericks aware they have been eyeing guard Jalen Brunson.

New York missed the playoffs after going 41-31 and finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference a year earlier.


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