Russell Westbrook to join Nuggets after Clippers-Jazz trade, sources say

The Clippers and Jazz have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell Westbrook, who is expected to join the Nuggets after Utah waives the former MVP and buys out the remainder of his contract, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Clippers will receive guard Kris Dunn from the Jazz for Westbrook, a second-round draft pick swap and cash, sources told Wojnarowski.

Westbrook, coming off a 2023-24 season during which he averaged a career-low 11.1 points for the Clippers, is expected to clear waivers before joining the Nuggets, according to sources.

League sources told ESPN that the Nuggets were interested in adding Westbrook if he were waived. The Nuggets can use a veteran backup point guard who can provide energy and defend after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson left in free agency.

“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.”

Westbrook, 35, opted into his $4 million contract last month, but Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank recently had talks with Westbrook’s agent to find the right fit for the nine-time All-Star after Paul George left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

Frank emphasized that the Clippers have “great respect” for Westbrook, whom he referred to as a “tremendous f—ing player, Hall of Fame player.”

Westbrook went into last season as the starting point guard for the Clippers. But LA traded for James Harden, and Westbrook moved to a sixth-man role shortly after and the Clippers proceeded to go on a 26-5 run during their best stretch.

Westbrook also averaged career-lows of 4.5 assists and 22.5 minutes. But the fan favorite played some of the best individual defense of his career, ranking fourth in field goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender among players to contest 300-plus shots last season, according to Second Spectrum tracking.

Westbrook often was paired with George, his former Thunder teammate and friend, together on the court. The Clippers now are moving forward with Kawhi Leonard and Harden while adding defensive-minded players such as Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum in free agency.

The Clippers and Dunn agreed to a three-year, $17 million deal with a non-guaranteed season on the third year, sources told Wojnarowski. He averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 36.9% from 3-point range in 66 games — his most since his rookie season in 2016-17.

Dunn also ranked sixth in deflections per 36 minutes among players to play at least 1,000 minutes, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. The Clippers targeted the defensive-minded Dunn early in free agency.