The buzz has been palpable and every rumor has been connecting the Denver Nuggets and Russell Westbrook for weeks. And yet, something about it all still didn’t feel real. The thought of the former NBA MVP joining the Nuggets was hard to wrap the head around.
But now that move is all but a done deal. On Thursday, the long holding pattern ended and the Clippers were able to trade Westbrook, adding him into their agreement with Kris Dunn and making it a sign-and-trade with the Jazz. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that the expectation is that the Jazz will waive Russ upon the acquisition.
They’ll get a pick swap and some cash for their troubles and Westbrook will get to hit free agency again. This is about as close to a win-win situation as was possible after Russ picked up his $4 million player option with the Clippers - who had no intentions of keeping him.
Westbrook to sign with Nuggets after clearing waivers
Woj (and others) have also reported that Westbrook is fully expected to clear waivers and will then sign a minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets. This impending marriage has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the league and now it’s just about official.
Westbrook will bring his energy, passion, and chaos to a Nuggets bench that needs a spark and some veteran leadership. He’ll give that unit an identity for better or worse. While Russ is nothing close to his peak, he can still be an impactful player in the right circumstances. It will be on the Nuggets’ front office and coaching staff to make sure they maximize him.
Westbrook signing has slam dunk and disaster potential
There’s no doubt the Nuggets needed more ballhandling, playmaking, and experience; Westbrook can provide all of those things in spades. He lacks a reliable jump shot and has been unable (or unwilling) to adapt his game for a smaller role in the past, which is why he’s bounced around the league the last several years.
At this point, both sides are pretty desperate and have plenty of reasons to make this work. Nikola Jokic is a fan and friend of Russ and has been advocating for him to join the team. If Jokic can get Russ to fall in line, accept his role, and take ownership of the bench unit, this could be a match made in heaven.
But if Russ falls into his old habits and monopolizes the game too frequently, this could be a disaster. It’s a big risk but with a big potential upside. The Nuggets had to take a swing and it appears they’ve done that. Let’s hope it’s the right bet.