Russell Westbrook's time with the Clippers is drawing to a close

Russell Westbrook spent last season coming off the bench for the L.A. Clippers. The veteran point guard moved following the team's addition of James Harden, averaging 11.1 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 45.4 percent from the field.

Nevertheless, Westbrook's future lies away from Los Angeles. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, both Westbrook and the Clippers front office plan to part ways during the summer.

"The Clippers and Russell Westbrook plan to part ways this offseason, and the franchise continues to discuss trades for the former NBA MVP, team and league sources said," Charania reported. "The Denver Nuggets are a front-runner to sign Westbrook if he becomes a free agent."

The Clippers are reportedly exploring a potential trade for Tyus Jones . Westbrook is likely surplus to requirements for Ty Lue's team.

Westbrook would be a strong fit for the Nuggets. He would provide high-level rebounding, scoring and playmaking off the bench. Mike Malone's team also needs a reliable backup for Jamal Murray, who is prone to injury. Of course, Denver would need to firm up its interest in Westbrook if it wants to snatch him away from L.A.

Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, Westbrook has struggled to find a consistent role with a team. Moving to a roster with a clear need for his skillset is the most logical choice at this point in his career. He's not an MVP-caliber talent anymore. Instead, he's a high-level guard who can provide on-court impact and off-court leadership.

Westbrook's Los Angeles experiment didn't work out after playing for both teams in L.A. Now, it's time to find a spot where he can maximize his impact and enjoy the final years of his career. Whatever team he lands with will be getting a future Hall of Famer with plenty left to offer.