Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets agreed to sign veteran point guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year, $6.8 million contract Friday that includes a player option for the 2025-26 season, according to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania.
Westbrook was free to sign with any team after being renounced by the Utah Jazz following a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here’s a look at the Nuggets’ updated depth chart and salary cap space after Friday’s trade.
- PG: Jamal Murray, Russell Westbrook, Trey Alexander
- SG: Christian Braun, Julian Strawther
- SF: Michael Porter Jr., Hunter Tyson, Justin Holiday
- PF: Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji
- C: Nikola Jokić, Dario Šarić, DeAndre Jordan
Based on the terms of the reported deal, Utah’s buyout and Denver’s lack of cap flexibility, Westbrook likely signs for the veteran minimum this season. The team was in the luxury tax and only $8.5 million away from the second apron for 2024-25 before reporting to the nine-time All-Star.
The franchise’s precarious financial situation is why Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure was so painful. Once Caldwell-Pope signed his three years, $66 million Against the Orlando Magic, there was no way to adequately replace a player who was averaging 10.1 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Westbrook at least gives the Nuggets some needed depth in the backcourt.
They don’t have much experience at the guard positions behind Jamal Murray. Christian Braun and Peyton Watson both have just two years of experience. Jalen Pickett was a second-round pick in 2023. Trey Alexander is an undrafted rookie who signed a two-way contract.
Westbrook played pretty well as a backup for Los Angeles. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes per game. He continued to struggle as a shooter, but made 45.4 percent of his field goal attempts overall.
The Nuggets were 25th in three-pointers made (11.7 per game) and Westbrook certainly won’t be much help in that regard. His value to a contending team is also relatively limited at this point, especially compared to his heyday with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
KC @No___KC
The Nuggets will play with 4 players (Watson, Braun, Russ, LW) in their rotation, you literally won’t need to guard over 5 feet after a season where they barely made 3 points.
Jokic will be fine but pray for Murray and the team as a whole in the half court https://t.co/BjBoELMzQn
This is where it’s helpful to remember that Denver will eventually add a backup point guard on a small contract. Management doesn’t expect Westbrook to be the missing piece of a championship formula.
From that perspective, that’s about all the 2023 NBA champion can do at this point in the offseason.
