Denver Nuggets fans are celebrating right now as 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook is set to join the former NBA champs after a buyout with the Utah Jazz.
Westbrook was traded by the L.A. Clippers to the Utah Jazz on Thursday in a sign-and-trade deal for veteran guard Kris Dunn. But Utah isn't expected to keep Russ, as he will be waived so he can sign with the Nuggets.
While it's not as big as the Sixers' acquisition of Paul George, former Nuggets head coach George Karl believes that the addition of Westbrook makes Denver the top dog in the West once again.
"I love Russ in Denver. Puts the Nuggets back on top of the West," wrote Karl on the social media platform 'X.'
Nuggets were dethroned by the Timberwolves
The Nuggets looked to repeat as champions this past season, and they finished tied with the young OKC Thunder at the top of the Western Conference team standings. As the second seed in the West, Denver was upset by a hungrier Minnesota Timberwolves squad in the second round of the playoffs.
As the offseason began, Denver salary-dumped Reggie Jackson and lost 3-and-D star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free agency. With Bruce Brown and Jeff Green also departing before the 2023-24 season, Denver's line-up looks different from the one that won the 2023 NBA Finals. With this summer's top free agents already signed, getting Russ was a pretty good consolation for Denver.
"Russ is a tough dude, a dawg. A warrior. He brings incredible athleticism and experience. He will play great alongside and behind Jamal. Let’s go," added Karl.
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Westbrook 'saved' the Clippers during the 2023 Playoffs
This isn't the first time that Westbrook has been traded to and subsequently waived by the Jazz. During the 2023 trade deadline, the Lakers ended Russ' disappointing tenure with them when they sent him for Utah in the deal that acquired D-Lo. The Jazz waived him, and he ended up signing with the Clippers. The athletic guard played very well to finish the year, and Tyronn Lue credited him for saving the Clippers' season .
But after that bounce-back performance, Russ hit a career-low 11.1 PPG last season as the Clippers added James Harden. Despite that, Westbrook still proved he could be a statistical contributor when given the opportunity. What will make him worth it for the Nuggets, though, will be his experience, leadership, and hustle. Hopefully, that will put Denver back in the driver's seat in the West.
Related: "A why-not signing" - Zach Lowe on the Nuggets' acquisition of Russell Westbrook
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