The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz, CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter confirms. Utah is expected to agree on a contract buyout with Westbrook and then the veteran guard is expected to sign with the Denver Nuggets, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
This is an expanded deal that was initially reported on July 1 by Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, in which Utah guard Kris Dunn agreed to a deal with the Clippers as an unrestricted free agent. Dunn will officially head to the Clippers on a three-year, $17 million deal as part of the sign-and-trade, per Haynes. The Clippers also sent a second-round pick swap and cash to the Jazz.
Westbrook opted into the final year of his deal earlier this summer, which was worth a little over $4 million. Now, it appears as though he and the Jazz will come to an agreement on a buyout number so that he can sign with his preferred option of the Nuggets.
Westbrook and the Nuggets had previously been rumored to have mutual interest in each other, and now it looks like he’ll be joining the team. While he’s past his All-Star and MVP-winning days, Westbrook did show value as a scorer and facilitator off the bench this past season with the Clippers. His defensive effort was also a necessity in the second unit.
Westbrook brings veteran leadership to a Nuggets team that has had a quiet offseason after losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic. Westbrook certainly won’t replace KCP’s defense — or his 3-point shooting — but at the right price, he can still be a valuable piece on a championship-contending team.
The Clippers always seemed to be headed toward trading Westbrook once he opted into his deal. L.A. is entering a new era, one without Paul George now, and clearly didn’t see value in keeping Westbrook for another season. They’ll be getting a bit of a journeyman in Dunn, who, after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Timberwolves, has spent time with the Bulls, Hawks, Trial Blazers and Jazz.
Westbrook has been traded five times since…
..
