Last year at this time, Jerry West was on the payroll of the Golden State Warriors. He’d come to the team in 2011 and helped build the transcendental dynasty we know today.

As we speak, West is on the payroll of the Los Angeles Clippers, a franchise that for 48 years has drifted from raging incompetence to unrequited success, and back.

A recent New York Times profile of the man they call The Logo confirmed that West is a healthy, ridiculously accomplished, 79-year-old who can golf his age. So why not slip into Bermuda shorts with dark socks and wingtips and watch the hummingbirds buzz around the back yard?

“I’m not a person that does very well when I don’t have a reason to get up in the morning,” West told the Times.

OK, let’s put a fine point on this. Why bolt the Warriors for the Clippers?

“You have to be wanted,” he said. Confessions of a logo.

During his time with the Warriors, West dispensed wisdom in five-gallon jugs. He was involved. If he had any more input in the recruiting of Kevin Durant he would be known as the Sixth Hampton.

But West saw what was happening. Bob Myers was promoted to general manager and did what West once did as GM of the Lakers — earn the NBA’s executive of the year award. Twice. West said he harbors no ill will, but it was clear to him that the Warriors’ younger decision-makers had a preternatural feel for what they were doing.

Thus West was receptive when the Clippers recruited him after his Warriors contract expired. His first season with the Clips was a rough ride. They gave Blake Griffin a five-year, $171 million contract. They traded guard Chris Paul to Houston. The team tanked. They traded Griffin. They currently hold two lottery picks in the upcoming draft.

West? He’s an interesting study. He was an All-Star all 14 years of his NBA career. But he was on the losing end of eight of the nine NBA Finals in which he competed. He’ll tell you the one title didn’t even begin to soothe the disappointment of the eight defeats.

He wants to be wanted, but he also wants to be heard.

“I don’t just want to be a figurehead,” he said. “You want to be a part of the decision-making process. I don’t have the final decision here, but I do have a voice.”