Russell Westbrook is lastly free from the media highlight after three tough years in Los Angeles, splitting his time between the Lakers and Clippers.
The longer term Corridor of Famer was traded by the Clippers in a deal that noticed Kris Dunn head to Ty Lue’s group. Westbrook was subsequently waived by the Utah Jazz.
Nevertheless, on Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Westbrook had agreed to a two-year, $6.8M take care of the Denver Nuggets.
On paper, Westbrook’s match inside Mike Malone’s offensive and defensive system is questionable. He is at his greatest when working in a ball-dominant position and pushing the tempo. Denver completed final season because the twenty sixth group within the league for tempo.
Nonetheless, Westbrook’s skill to drive defensive collapses may open up simple taking pictures alternatives for Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. Moreover, will probably be fascinating to see how he performs subsequent to Nikola Jokic when the 2 inevitably share the courtroom.
Most significantly, although, Denver now has a high-level understudy for Jamal Murray, who missed a big chunk of final season resulting from damage.
After years of being positioned in miscast roles and having his strategy shackled because of the expertise round him, Westbrook is heading to a group that wants him to be himself. The Nuggets want a lift in tempo. They want the rim stress. And they’re going to welcome extra playmaking through drive-and-dish offense.
Westbrook is within the ultimate stage of his profession. He deserved to discover a group to intensify his expertise and place him to thrive. He and the Nuggets entrance workplace will undoubtedly hope he could be a real difference-maker throughout his time within the Mile Excessive Metropolis.