Russell Westbrook To Clear Waivers, Sign With NBA Finals Contender

Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook reportedly plans to sign with the Denver Nuggets as a free agent once he clears waivers, ESPN 's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday (July 18).

Westbrook, who spent the past who spent the past 2023-24 season and part of the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Clippers , was traded to the Utah Jazz prior to Wojnarowski's report.

"Once Russell Westbrook clears waivers, the expectation is that he’ll join the Denver Nuggets as a free agent and bring them another veteran to bolster the team’s bench and be available as a spot-starter," Wojnarowski wrote on his X account.

The Clippers traded Westbrook, a second-round draft pick swap and cash to the Jazz in exchange for guard Kris Dunn .

Westbrook averaged a career-low 11.1 points per game and started 11 of 68 total games for the Clippers, his fifth team in six seasons. The Nuggets are reported to be interested in Westbrook in a backup role to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson , who began his career as Westbrook's backup for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"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."