Mercurial guard Russell Westbrook, who opted into his $4-million contract this summer, has been traded to Utah in a sign-and-trade deal that will give the Clippers guard Kris Dunn, according to people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
As well as the Clippers acquiring Dunn, they also will receive a second-round draft-pick swap with the Jazz and cash. The Clippers will sign Dunn for three years and $17 million.
Westbrook, 35, and his representatives are working on a buyout with the Jazz that will allow him to join the Denver Nuggets once he clears waivers, according to a person not authorized to speak publicly. Once he joins the Nuggets, it will be Westbrook’s fifth team in six seasons heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
Multiple reports said the Nuggets were interested in Westbrook after losing guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who joined Orlando in free agency, and Reggie Jackson, who was traded to Charlotte.
During an interview with the media Monday, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said the team had been working with Westbrook’s agent to find a place that fit the veteran after All-Star forward Paul George was lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in a free-agency deal. He signed for $212 million over four years.
Frank talked about the “great respect” the Clippers had for Westbrook and how he was a “Hall of Fame player.”
Westbrook averaged career lows in scoring (11.1 points per game), assists (4.5) and minutes (22.5) last season. He shot a dismal 27.3% from three-point range but made 45.4% of his field goals.
After the Clippers acquired James Harden last October, Westbrook eventually came off the bench, a role the Clippers claimed he was fine with even though he had balked when former Lakers coach Darvin Ham made him the sixth man.
“Last year was a different role than he’s ever played before, backing up once we made the trade for James,” Frank said during his news conference Monday. “So, I think obviously he opted in, but since he opted in and with PG leaving as well, we’ve kind of worked with his agent…”
In Dunn, 30, the Clippers get a tough defender who showed improvement in two seasons with Utah. The 6-3 guard averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds last season in 66 games, 32 starts. He shot 47% from the field and 36.9% from three-point range.
He will be playing for his sixth team heading into his ninth season.
The Nuggets were in need of a backup point guard, and Westbrook fits that bill. They need his energy and defensive ability.
“I think we need some help in the backcourt,” Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth told Denver TV station “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.”