Paging Russell Westbrook: Paul George says come to Clippers

LOS ANGELES(AP) — If Paul George has his way, Russell Westbrook would end upas the point guard the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t get at the tradedeadline.

The LosAngeles Lakers sent Westbrook to Utah as part of athree-way dealearlier thisweek. There’s been talk the Jazz would buy out his contract, butit’s also possible he could stay with them for the rest of theseason.

Georgewouldn’t mind seeing him in a Clippers jersey.

“I’ve talkedto him just to kind of see where his head is and to see if there isanything I can do,” George said Friday night aftertheClippers lost to Milwaukeewith Kawhi Leonard on thebench.

George andWestbrook were former running mates in Oklahoma City, and Georgebelieves the nine-time All-Star still has plenty left at age 34despite his rocky tenure with the Lakers.

“I’m a bigbeliever and a fan of what Russ’ work is, having one of my bestseasons in my career alongside of him. I’ve seen what he can donight in and night out,” George said. “I really think he canimprove the team. He’s such a big talent. He rebounds, he findsguys, he makes the game easy for everyone. I think he will come in,he will mesh and he’ll figure out how we play and he’ll adjust toit.”

George saidthe Clippers can still make a postseason run without a point guard,but having Westbrook in the traditional role of starting theoffense would make things easier. John Wall didn’t work out andtheteam sent him back toHoustonthis week.

“We haveenough shooting to surround Russ where Russ can be Russ. I thinkthe floor would be open for him, spacing would be there for him,”George said. “I know that’s my game, spacing the floor, being ashooter on the perimeter and then just running with him intransition. I think that’s where we can complement him.”

Westbrook,the 2017 NBA MVP, never meshed with LeBron James and oft-injuredAnthony Davis on the Lakers. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.2 assists,6.9 rebounds and 3.7 turnovers during his 130-game tenure.Westbrook, who played at UCLA, was frequently mentioned in tradetalk.

“If it makessense and obviously it goes with our team, we’re all for it,”George said. “Hopefully, Russell sees this and we figure somethingout.”