Russell Westbrook joins a championship contender a year after winning the NBA championship? Where have we seen that before? After a failed quest to repeat as champions, the Denver Nuggets had a few questions going into the offseason. In Bruce Brown, the team lost an irreplaceable piece of the team last season. His energy and defense gave the team an edge off the bench, allowing them to thrive on both ends.
However, his performance got him upwards of $20 million, leading the Nuggets to make a tough decision. While it did look like the team was going to be okay, the ultimate result was not. Thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver found themselves on the out in the second round of the playoffs. However, rather than retooling their roster, the changes continue to mount.
Immediately in the offseason, the team lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. A permanent starter on the team for nearly 3 seasons, KCP was invaluable for the Nuggets. As the quintessential 3-and-D wing, his defense made up for Jamal Murray‘s deficiencies. Further, his 40% 3-point shooting was critical for a team ranking dead last in 3-point attempts. But, when the Orlando Magic came calling with another $20 million bag, Nikola Jokic lost another rangy wing.
So far, the Nuggets hadn’t really come out with an answer for the losses. In Pope and Brown, they lost 2 of their best defenders and shooters on the squad. However, the team hadn’t made any moves to replicate their production. Instead, reportedly at the behest of Jokic himself, the team went after a recently waived Russell Westbrook.
How does Russell Westbrook fit into the Nuggets scheme?
The last time a team went and got Westbrook after losing Caldwell Pope was a disaster. The Lakers had their worst year of the LeBron James era, missing the playoffs entirely. Now, the Nuggets will look to right that ship. However, there still remains a variety of doubts and questions about the team’s current iteration.
The team’s key reasons for losing were the lack of perimeter defense and reliable shooters. Against a Minnesota team with the best defensive rating in the league by a mile, that defensive gap was even more pronounced. Further, the team was constantly battling injuries, with Murray pushing through the postseason with an injury. And, as the team attempting the least 3-pointers in the league, the 3 for 2 math wasn’t working out in their favor.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets Updates
Substituting KCP for Brodie doesn’t answer either of those questions. Even though he was an awesome defender when locked in during his prime, Russell has never been the most consistent on that end. Additionally, at this stage in his career, his days as a defensive force continue to diminish. But, the even bigger problem comes offensively.
With a guy like Pope, the team had the perfect off-ball piece. Thriving in catch-and-shoot opportunities as a smart player, Kentavious could thrive alongside the ball-dominant styles of both Jamal and the Joker. With the 2017 NBA MVP, that couldn’t be further from the case. Historically, amongst the players with the highest usage rate, Russ needs the ball in his hands. Moreover, his energy, bordering at a frenetic pace, also leads to some erratic possessions. But, the most significant discrepancy comes in the shooting.
In KCP, the Nuggets had a legit 40% shooter from distance, a true floor spacer. For all his brilliance, no one ever accused Westbrook of being a good shooter. Even in his prime, the 9-time All-Star wasn’t an elite shooter. For his career, his 30.4% ranks way below average for an NBA player. And in recent times, that number has gone further down than up. Last season, he was in his mid-20s, struggling mightily from a distance.
The outlook on Westbrook
As the above soliloquy proves, the fit for Westbrook in Denver, or any modern basketball contender remains suspect. As a below-average defender with abysmal shooting, finding the right fit is damn near impossible. Even when the ill-fated trade to the Lakers went down, most were immediately calling it out. It was clear to see that a core trio of James, Russ, and Anthony Davis would not co-exist.
As it would turn out, the skeptics were on-point with that one, with Los Angeles eventually shipping Russell out. This time around, it looks like a similar story might play out for Denver. But, the one key difference when it comes to the 2-time scoring champ is the perception. While most fans and media pundits alike crucify the guy, Russ remains amongst the most popular in NBA circles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets Updates
For players, his energy, heart, and effort are second to none. Instead, it remains something to fawn over and want on your side. Both LeBron James and Nikola Jokic are verifiable basketball geniuses. Seen as the peak of basketball IQ, their eye for the game is second to none.
However, in both the Lakers and the Nuggets instances, the MVP/Hall of Famer made the call to their team to recruit Westbrook. Despite the fit seeming questionable to everyone, it was the right call to make for the superstars. While for the casual fan, the topic of Russell Westbrook is a source of big debates, the game’s legends have clear, unabashed respect for Brodie.
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