Westbrook joining Clippers after being waived by Jazz

LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook was waived by the Utah Jazz on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) and the nine-time All-Star is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a published report.

The 34-year-old guard was acquired by the Jazz from the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 10. He averaged 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 28.7 minutes per game in a rocky tenure with the Lakers. ESPN reported that Westbrook’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told the outlet he will sign with the Clippers after completing a contract buyout on the remaining $47 million he’s owed on his expiring deal.

Schwartz did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. The Clippers had no comment.

The move would reunite Westbrook with Paul George, his former teammate in Oklahoma City. It also allows Westbrook to stay in Los Angeles. He is from the area and starred at UCLA.

George had lobbied recently for the Clippers to land Westbrook, who won the MVP in 2017 with the Thunder.

“I’m a big believer and a fan of what Russ’ work is, having one of my best seasons in my career alongside of him. I’ve seen what he can do night in and night out,” George

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

After taming Brgy. Ginebra the previous PBA schedule, San Miguel Beer suffered a very sorry loss to arch-rival TNT, 105-103, in what I might call “somewhat of a fluke” even if it was not.

Calvin Oftana battled for the offensive rebound after a Rondae Hollis Jefferson lay up miss.

He got the spheroid and released a follow up shot a split second before the buzzer - this despite defensive SMB hands trying to stop him..

Lo and behold, it went in and the crowd went wild at the PhilSports Arena Sunday as if in a fiesta celebration.

It was almost a fluke because San Miguel’s tower of power, Jun- said. “I really think he can improve the team. He’s such a big talent. He rebounds, he finds guys, 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 to it.”

Mar Fajardo wasn’t anywhere to contest the rebound play.

That was the fluke I referred to - a coaching fluke. With the score tied at 103 and just 13 ticks left after SMB import Cameron Clark completed a three-point play, coach Jojo Lastimosa called for time to design the last action.

Pardon me but when his boys were defending why did coach Gallent forget to field in Fajardo as a safety to ensure his tallest guy could intimidate TNT penetration and secure the defensive board?

Many pro TNT watchers called Oftana’s buzzer beater a lucky shot and what a lucky man Oftana was - to be there at the right place at the right time.

Westbrook would join a Clippers team that is fourth in the Western Conference at 33-28 coming out of the All-Star break.

The Lakers traded Westbrook and a 2027 first-round draft pick to the Jazz as part of a threeteam deal.

But you know - when you have a talented ex-NBA import who knows how to read situations, TNT is lucky RHJ ably penetrated the defense.

And though he missed, he could not be faulted for trying to beat the time and score or be fouled in the process.

The victory ensured the Tropang Giga a quarterfinals slot and a twice to beat privilege, aside from grabbing the solo lead in the team standings with 8-1 win loss card.

At 7-2, the Beermen need to snatch one more victory to give TNT company at the quarters.

This TNT-SanMig match up is the kind that attracts fanatics to the PBA because they get their money’s worth.

I love the see-sawing duel, the kind that brings back joyful memories of the legendary Yco-Ysmael MICAA saga in the late fifties and sixties. The non-stop action also elevated the game into a championship level somewhat as the very thrilling exchange of fire and defensive strategies did not fail to elicit oohs and aahs.

Well, you saw how Ginebra masacred Blackwater in the first game. No wonder Brgy. Ginebra legions weren’t there.

What an eyesore.

But the TNT-San Mig tussle was of a special flavor. Up till the dying seconds, I was already in agreement that the ballgame would go into extension, what with only a few ticks remaining.

The two imports -laden conferences without doubt spike interest and increase team following and fan support.

THE SCORES:

TNT (105) - Castro 21, Hollis Jefferson 19,, K. Williams 16, Oftana 14, M. williams 11, Chua 8, Khobuntin 8, Varilla 4, Montalbo 4. San Miguel (103) - Clark 30, Perez 25, Fajardo 12, Creuz 10, Manuel 8, Tautuaa 6, Enciso 5,Lassiter 4, Bulanadi 3, Brondial, Ross 0. Quarterscores: - 24-20; 4948;83-77; 105-103. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!