Reports surfaced this week claiming the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are interested in trading with the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook. New York's interest is very on-brand for the Knicks, but the Clippers side is a little harder to understand.

On the daily Locked On Clippers Podcast, hosts William Updyke and Charles Mockler discuss the rumors swirling around the Clippers. Moreover, and more accurately, their interest in Russell Westbrook.

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William Updyke: So, about the possibility of Russell Westbrook joining the Clippers… Kevin O'Connor reports that the Clippers and Knicks both have had trade interest in Russell Westbrook. The first obstacle I feel like you have to hop over is that he's owed…

Charles Mockler: He's bad.

William: Westbrook is owed $41 million in 2021, $44 million in 2122, and has a player option that he's definitely not turning down worth $47 million in 2023.

Charles: When I say not good I mean for the money he makes and for what this team would look like to have to move in order to get him.

William: I don't want to say that Russell Westbrook is a bad player because that's just not true

Charles: But it's not what you need it's not what the Clippers need. In this scenario, can we keep Paul George and Kawhi or is Paul George gone?

William: There's no way I'm giving up Paul George for frickin' Russell Westbrook. What would the Clippers have to give up, just to paint a picture, to get to that $40+ million dollar kind of range?

Charles: There was one idea put out that I think is asinine for the Rockets to accept, which is Pat Beverley, Rodney McGruder, and Montrezl Harrell on an $18 million sign-and-trade for Russell Westbrook, that's not gonna happen.

William: $18 million? Wow, Trez makes out like a bandit here.

Charles: This is an absolutely absurd trade idea. What is the point of this for the Rockets?

William: They're just trading back what they traded us in the Chris Paul trade.

Charles: That's insane.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xHSNxYYCK81AHtvhCz1Oi?si=bPo0FcQ2QdajIKi2dJI3Pg