Information from sources: Westbrook to join Nuggets after the Clippers-Jazz swap
The Clippers and Jazz reached an agreement on a deal that involved Russell Westbrook, who is likely to sign with the Nuggets following Utah has released his former MVP.
By Ohm Youngmisuk
Jul 18, 2024 06:34 PM
The Clippers and Jazz agreed to a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell Westbrook , the teams announced Thursday, and sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the former MVP is expected to join the Nuggets after Utah waives him and buys out the remainder of his contract.
The Clippers were given Guard Kris Dunn from the Jazz as part of a trade-signing deal. It was reported that the Clippers and Dunn signed an agreement for three years, totalling $17 million deal with a non-guaranteed year in the third year of the deal, sources have told Wojnarowski.
Utah also got a 2030 second-round draft swap and draft rights to the center Balsa Koprivica who was picked 57th of the 2021 NBA draft, as well as $4.3 millions in cash according to sources.
Westbrook is returning from a 2023-24 season that saw him average an all-time low of 11.1 scores for the Clippers. The Nuggets have a veteran point guard that can give the energy and play defense following the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson left in free agency.
“I think we need some help in the backcourt,” Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth told ”Altitude TV”‘ on Tuesday. “We are going to try to continue to identify that and survey the market. We have a roster spot left and I think if we can add a high-level guard, we will be happy with that.”
Westbrook 35, who is a Clippers player, decided to opt for a four-year contract worth $4 million in the month of March, but Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank recently had talks with Westbrook’s agent to figure out the perfect match to the 9-time All-Star following the news that Paul George left to join the Philadelphia Sixers as a free agent.
“Russ is an all-time great, and we were fortunate to have him here,” Frank stated in an announcement. “He lifted the energy and intensity of the group. We look forward to seeing him continue his decorated career.”
Westbrook was in the this season as the primary point guard with the Clippers. However, LA traded him for James Harden and Westbrook was promoted to a sixth-man position soon after. The Clippers then went on a run of 26-5 in their most successful stretch of the season.
Westbrook also recorded his career-lows at 4.5 assists as well as 22.5 minutes. The fan-favorite also had some of the most impressive defensive performances of his career. He ranked 4th in the field-goal percentage as a defender who was able to contest shots among players who played 300+ shots in the last season, as per Second Spectrum tracking.
Westbrook frequently played with George who was his friend as well as his former Thunder player in court. The Clippers are now taking on Kawhi Leonard and Harden and are adding defensive players like Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. as well as Nicolas Batum in free agency.
Dunn scored 5.4 points per game, 3.8 assists as well as 1.0 steals, while shooting 36.9 percent from the 3-point line in 66 games, his highest since his rookie season of 2016-17.
Dunn was also ranked sixth in deflections per hour of players who played for at least 1,000 minutes according to research conducted by ESPN Stats & Information. The Clippers were interested in defensive-minded Dunn at the beginning of free the market.