Russell Westbrook Sent Packing As Clippers Complete Trade

Russell Westbrook recently picked up his $4 million option for next season, but it's been obvious for some time that his days with the Los Angeles Clippers were numbered, nevertheless. Today, he officially became an ex-Clipper, as he was sent to the Utah Jazz in a deal that lands Kris Dunn in L.A.

ESPN Sources: The Los Angeles Clippers are sending guard Russell Westbrook, a second-round pick swap and cash to the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade agreement for guard Kris Dunn. pic.twitter.com/48DqYlZ2eK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2024

The full trade sees the Clippers sending Westbrook, a second-round pick swap and cash to the Jazz, who in turn complete a sign-and-trade to send guard Kris Dunn to the Clips.

Utah, however, will not be Westbrook's final destination, as he is expected to agree on a contract buyout with the Jazz, clearing the way for him to join the Denver Nuggets after he clears waivers. The Nuggets have been linked to Westbrook over the past several weeks.

Ironically, this will be the second time in two years that the Jazz have bought out Westbrook after a Los Angeles-based team sent him there. The same thing happened with the Lakers after a messy divorce the previous season.

Russ was not happy with his role in LA last season (where have we heard that before?) after he was relegated to the second unit shortly after the arrival of James Harden in the Clippers backcourt. Westbrook put up the worst numbers of his career across the board, including playing just 22.5 minutes per game, far below his career average of 33.6.

His 11.5 points per game was about half of the 21.7 he's averaged over the course of his 16 seasons in the league.

In Denver, Westbrook will be the backup to starting point guard Jamal Murray, and there can be no doubt in Russ's mind about that.

As for Dunn, he has agreed to a three-year, $17 million deal with the Clippers in the sign-and-trade part of this deal. Dunn, 30, averaged 5.4 points and 3.8 assists last season with the Jazz.