The Los Angeles Clippers made a significant move on Thursday, trading guard Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz, with the veteran guard expected to eventually join the Denver Nuggets. ESPN reported the trade, which also involved the Clippers acquiring guard Kris Dunn in a sign-and-trade deal.
Westbrook, who joined the Clippers late in the 2022-23 season, was in line to make $4.03 million next season in the second year of his two-year deal with the team. The move to Utah will see Westbrook agree on a contract buyout before signing a free-agent deal with the Nuggets after clearing waivers.
The 35-year-old Westbrook had a productive season with the Clippers last year, averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 68 games (11 starts). He returned to a starting role late in the season after initially coming off the bench and finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
In his 16-year NBA career, Westbrook has been a nine-time All-Star and the 2016-17 MVP. He has averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 1,162 games (1,039 starts) for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Clippers.
As part of the trade, the Clippers also swapped second-round picks and sent cash to the Jazz, while acquiring Dunn. The 30-year-old Dunn averaged 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 66 games (32 starts) for the Jazz last season. In his eight NBA seasons with five different teams, Dunn has averaged 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 333 games (164 starts).
Overall, the trade marks a significant shake-up for all three teams involved, with Westbrook set to bring his veteran leadership and playmaking abilities to the Denver Nuggets in the upcoming season. Fans will be eager to see how Westbrook fits in with his new team and contributes to their success on the court.
