Report: Westbrook traded to Jazz, will join Nuggets after buyout

The Utah Jazz acquired Russell Westbrook in a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for point guard Kris Dunn, a second-round pick swap, and cash, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Westbrook is expected to come to a buyout agreement with the Jazz, allowing him to join the Denver Nuggets, Wojnarowski adds.

Dunn is expected to sign a three-year, $17-million deal with the Clippers, according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times.

The 30-year-old is an excellent perimeter defender who found a home in Los Angeles after bouncing around the league. The former fifth overall pick had over a 50% effective field-goal rate in both seasons with the Jazz, the only times he's done that in his eight-year career.

This is the second time Westbrook has been shipped to Utah only to be bought out before playing a game for the club. The Jazz picked up the nine-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2023 trade deadline in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Timberwolves. Westbrook went on to sign with the Clippers.

Westbrook is set to appear for his sixth NBA franchise as he continues to search for an NBA title. Last season, the Timberwolves bounced the Nuggets from the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals.

Picking up Westbrook will bolster Denver's backcourt after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope opted to sign a three-year deal with the Orlando Magic this offseason. The Nuggets also lost point guard Reggie Jackson in free agency. Westbrook will provide experience to a youthful Nuggets bench relying on Julian Strawther, Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson, who have a combined five years of NBA experience.

Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 assists, and five rebounds in 68 games with the Clippers last campaign.