According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets were interested in Russell Westbrook.
However, Westbrook picked up his 2024-25 player option to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“One player the Nuggets were considering for that role was Westbrook, sources said, before the veteran opted into his $4 million with the Clippers,” Fischer wrote.
Just because Westbrook picked up his 2024-25 player option doesn’t mean he will remain with the Clippers. LAC could trade Westbrook, per NBA insider Law Murray of The Athletic.
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% overall, 27.3% from 3 and 68.8% from the foul line.
The Clippers had to convince Westbrook to come off the bench after acquiring James Harden and it wasn’t an easy process, per NBA reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games. The franchise is concerned that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will leave in free agency, although GM Calvin Booth said things will be “OK” if that happens.
“Yeah I think you have to look at everything and the nature of free agency is that he’s unrestricted,” Booth said. “So we can try to bring him back and if he doesn’t want to come back or opts to go somewhere else, that’s his prerogative. So we’ll have to work with that.
“So I think we’re prepared to like plug and play so to speak. When you look at some of the teams that have been good in the past, they had to find a way to replace fourth, fifth starters, sixth men off the bench and still keep rolling. It would be nice if he’s back, we’d have a lot of continuity together, but all the stuff I’ve looked at with lineup stuff and everything, Christian Braun is one of the best net rating guys in the league, as is KCP.
“So I think if he’s to step into the starting lineup, I would project that we’ll be OK if KCP doesn’t return.”
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Would love to see QB Jokic get an elite wide receive in Westbrook. Would enhance their D and ability to kill in transition.