Sources: Westbrook to join Nuggets after Clippers-Jazz trade

The Clippers and Jazz agreed to a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell Westbrook, the groups introduced Thursday, and sources informed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the previous MVP is anticipated to hitch the Nuggets after Utah waives him and buys out the rest of his contract.

The Clippers obtained guard Kris Dunn from the Jazz as a part of the sign-and-trade deal. The Clippers and Dunn agreed to a three-year, $17 million contract with a non-guaranteed season within the third yr, sources informed Wojnarowski.

Utah additionally obtained a 2030 second-round choose swap, the draft rights to middle Balsa Koprivica, who was the 57th choose within the 2021 NBA draft, and $4.3 million in money, sources stated.

The Jazz introduced Saturday that they had been formally waiving the previous MVP guard.

Westbrook is coming off a 2023-24 season through which he averaged a career-low 11.1 factors for the Clippers. The Nuggets can use a veteran backup level guard who can present vitality and defend after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson left in free company.

“I believe we want some assist in the backcourt,” Nuggets basic supervisor Calvin Sales space informed ”Altitude TV” on Tuesday. “We’re going to attempt to proceed to establish that and survey the market. Now we have a roster spot left and I believe if we are able to add a high-level guard, we will likely be pleased with that.”

Westbrook, 35, opted in to his $4 million contract final month, however Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank lately had talks with Westbrook’s agent to seek out the suitable match for the nine-time All-Star after Paul George left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free company.

“Russ is an all-time nice, and we had been lucky to have him right here,” Frank stated in a press release. “He lifted the vitality and depth of the group. We stay up for seeing him proceed his embellished profession.”

Westbrook went into final season as the start line guard for the Clippers. However LA traded for James Harden, and Westbrook moved to a sixth-man position shortly after and the Clippers proceeded to go on a 26-5 run throughout their finest stretch.

Westbrook additionally averaged profession lows of 4.5 assists and 22.5 minutes. However the fan favourite performed a number of the finest particular person protection of his profession, rating fourth in discipline aim share allowed because the contesting defender amongst gamers to contest 300-plus pictures final season, in response to Second Spectrum monitoring.

Westbrook typically was paired with George, his buddy and former Thunder teammate, collectively on the courtroom. The Clippers now are shifting ahead with Kawhi Leonard and Harden whereas including defensive-minded gamers comparable to Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum in free company.

Dunn averaged 5.4 factors, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals whereas capturing 36.9% from 3-point vary in 66 video games — his most since his rookie season in 2016-17.

Dunn additionally ranked sixth in deflections per 36 minutes amongst gamers to play no less than 1,000 minutes, in response to analysis by ESPN Stats & Data. The Clippers focused the defensive-minded Dunn early in free company.