Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic seemingly wanted his team to land seemingly available Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, and that is precisely what the Nuggets are doing.
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Westbrook is being traded to the Utah Jazz, and then for the second time in two years, the Jazz will buy out his contract. He will then sign with the Nuggets.
Per NBA reporter Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports, Jokic signed off on the deal for Westbrook to come to Denver. That's not a big surprise. Jokic is a known fan.
Meanwhile, both Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth and coach Michael Malone went on record in recent days saying the team was looking for another guard this offseason.
"Russell Westbrook remains a target for that role, sources say, and Denver is widely seen as the most plausible destination for the future Hall of Famer, who picked up a $4 million player option with the Clippers at the end of June," Bennett Durando of the Denver Post wrote earlier this month. "Nikola Jokic has indeed endorsed the idea of acquiring Westbrook, according to a league source, but he hasn't approached the front office demanding or pressuring Denver to make it happen.
"The Nuggets value the opinion of their superstar and take it into account when assessing potential roster moves, like most teams do. In this case? Jokic has spent time around Westbrook at multiple All-Star Games and has always admired his game, as well as his competitiveness and intensity, one source said, making Westbrook an appealing teammate."
The NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.4% from the field, 27.3% from beyond the arc and 68.8% from the foul line.
Denver lost starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who left for the Orlando Magic in free agency.
"I think we need some help in the backcourt," Booth told Altitude TV. "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."
(This article originally appeared on Hoops Wire and was republished with permission.)
