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 long run Corridor of Famer was traded by the Clippers in a deal that noticed Kris Dunn head to Ty Lue’s workforce. Westbrook was subsequently waived by the Utah Jazz.
Nonetheless, on Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Westbrook had agreed to a two-year, $6.8M cope with 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 26th team in the league for pace.
However, Westbrook’s ability to force defensive collapses may open up simple capturing alternatives for Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. Moreover, it will likely be fascinating to see how he performs subsequent to Nikola Jokic when the 2 inevitably share the court docket.
Most significantly, although, Denver now has a high-level understudy for Jamal Murray, who missed a big chunk of final season attributable to harm.
After years of being positioned in miscast roles and having his strategy shackled as a result of expertise round him, Westbrook is heading to a workforce that wants him to be himself. The Nuggets want a lift in tempo. They want the rim strain. And they’ll welcome extra playmaking through drive-and-dish offense.
Westbrook is within the remaining stage of his profession. He deserved to discover a workforce to intensify his expertise and place him to thrive. He and the Nuggets entrance workplace will undoubtedly hope he generally is a real difference-maker throughout his time within the Mile Excessive Metropolis.
