Before turning their attention to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin later this summer, the Clippers appear focused on another free-agent-to-be.

A 79-year-old one.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and coach Doc Rivers have reportedly met with Jerry West, who built a Hall of Fame career as a player, coach and executive with the Lakers, about joining the Clippers in an advisory role similar to the one he has held with the Golden State Warriors since 2011.

According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the Clippers are serious about luring West away from Golden State when his contract ends in July.

Why would he leave Golden State? For starters, West continues to live in Los Angeles, shuttling back and forth to the Bay Area for his Warriors duties. Second, he has never been afraid to step away on his own terms. West had been associated with the Lakers since 1960 when he left in 2000, after the first of three consecutive championships, and went on to help rebuild the Memphis Grizzlies before joining the Warriors.

A move to the Clippers also would no doubt upset much of the Los Angeles basketball establishment, and irritate the Lakers – something in which those atop the Clippers would take no small amount of pleasure. However, Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss had her chance to prevent what could no doubt make for awkward optics.

Before Buss hired Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka in February to lead the Lakers’ front office, West was regarded as a candidate to rejoin the mix, and those close to the Hall of Famer have indicated he was excited about a potential homecoming.

“He wanted it more than anything,” one source said.

West is reportedly under contract with the Warriors through July, cracking open the door for other teams to try to woo him. However, Warriors owner Joe Lacob has made it clear he hopes to retain West, telling the Bay Arena News Group last month, “We would love him back, and we’ve made that known.”

West would instantly enhance the team’s credibility and cachet, especially with Paul, Griffin and J.J. Redick about to become free agents and their decisions potentially upending the franchise’s trajectory.

Despite their place as self-described championship contenders, the Clippers have never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs and in April lost to the Utah Jazz in seven games, their second consecutive first-round exit from the playoffs.

If he made the surprise move to the Clippers, West would in a sense be following in the footsteps of one of his former Lakers Hall of Fame teammates. Elgin Baylor was the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations from 1986-2008.