The Los Angeles Clippers are buying and selling Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz, CBS Sports activities’ Invoice Reiter confirms. Utah is anticipated to agree on a contract buyout with Westbrook after which the veteran guard is anticipated to signal with the Denver Nuggets, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
That is an expanded deal that was initially reported on July 1 by Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, by which Utah guard Kris Dunn agreed to a take care of the Clippers as an unrestricted free agent. Dunn will formally head to the Clippers on a three-year, $17 million deal as a part of the sign-and-trade, per Haynes. The Clippers additionally despatched a second-round choose swap and money to the Jazz.
Westbrook opted into the ultimate 12 months of his deal earlier this summer season, which was value a bit of over $4 million. Now, it seems as if he and the Jazz will come to an settlement on a buyout quantity in order that he can signal along with his most popular possibility of the Nuggets.
Westbrook and the Nuggets had beforehand been rumored to have mutual curiosity in one another, and now it appears like he’ll be becoming a member of the staff. Whereas he is previous his All-Star and MVP-winning days, Westbrook did present worth as a scorer and facilitator off the bench this previous season with the Clippers. His defensive effort was additionally a necessity within the second unit.
Westbrook brings veteran management to a Nuggets staff that has had a quiet offseason after shedding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic. Westbrook actually will not substitute KCP’s protection — or his 3-point capturing — however on the proper value, he can nonetheless be a beneficial piece on a championship-contending staff.
The Clippers at all times gave the impression to be headed towards buying and selling Westbrook as soon as he opted into his deal. L.A. is coming into a brand new period, one with out Paul George now, and clearly did not see worth in holding Westbrook for an additional season. They’re going to be getting a little bit of a journeyman in Dunn, who, after being chosen with the fifth general choose within the 2016 draft by the Timberwolves, has hung out with the Bulls, Hawks, Trial Blazers and Jazz.
Westbrook has been traded 5 occasions since 2019 — probably the most ever by a former league MVP — and it is the second straight 12 months he has been traded to Utah. The Lakers despatched him to the Jazz on the 2023 NBA commerce deadline, however he was waived by the Jazz 11 days later after which signed with the Clippers.
Dunn’s a defensive-minded guard who, in current seasons, has began to search out his shot from 3-point vary. He would not take 3s at a excessive quantity, averaging beneath two makes an attempt a recreation over the past three seasons, however he is making them at a 37.3% clip when he does have the arrogance to let it fly from downtown. If he can get that quantity up and preserve consistency, he’ll be a beneficial shooter for the Clippers. His protection off the bench will definitely be an enormous increase for L.A.’s second unit, as he confirmed in Utah that he is able to staying in entrance of faster guards.
