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The Los Angeles Clippers have traded Southern California native Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz.
Russell Westbrook set to join Denver Nuggets
This trade, reported by ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, is part of a sign-and-trade deal involving the veteran guard.
The Clippers will receive guard Kris Dunn, a second-round draft pick swap, and cash in return for Westbrook.
Westbrook, 35, is expected to join the Denver Nuggets after being waived and bought out by the Jazz.
This transition comes after a season where he averaged a career-low 11.1 points per game for the Clippers.
Sources indicate that the Nuggets have shown interest in adding Westbrook as a veteran backup point guard to bolster their backcourt depth following the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson in free agency.
Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth expressed the team's need for additional backcourt support in a recent interview with Altitude TV.
"We need some help in the backcourt," Booth stated.
"If we can add a high-level guard, we will be happy with that."
Westbrook's time with the Clippers saw him transition from a starting point guard role to a sixth-man position after the team acquired James Harden.
Despite the changes, Westbrook played some of the best individual defense of his career, ranking fourth in field goal percentage allowed among players contesting 300-plus shots last season, according to Second Spectrum tracking.
Kris Dunn lands with the Clippers
The Clippers, while parting ways with Westbrook, have secured Kris Dunn on a three-year, $17 million deal, with a team option for the third year.
Dunn averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals last season while shooting 36.9% from three-point range.
Known for his defensive prowess, Dunn ranked sixth in deflections per 36 minutes among players who played at least 1,000 minutes.
The Clippers, moving forward with stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, have focused on bolstering their defense by adding players like Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., and Nicolas Batum in free agency.
Meanwhile, Westbrook looks to make a meaningful impact with the Nuggets, continuing his storied NBA career with renewed aspirations for a championship.