Clippers players were starting practice Thursday morning when they first realized the team’s starting lineup had suddenly changed.
The signal was the sight of Russell Westbrook flipping his practice jersey to its white side, the color worn by reserves.
Bringing Westbrook, the starting guard since his very first game as a Clipper last February, off the bench had been in the works since the day before, according to people with knowledge of the events who asked to remain anonymous to discuss internal matters.
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While some within the organization felt Wednesday that such a change was being considered, later that day — one day after the Clippers lost their sixth consecutive game to fall to 3-7, including five losses in a row since James Harden joined the lineup — Westbrook sent coach Tyronn Lue a text message saying he would do whatever was needed to help the team.