Russell Westbrook is set to join the Denver Nuggets after being bought out as part of Kris Dunn’s sign-and-trade agreement with the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. 

Utah officially waived Westbrook on July 20. 

Westbrook will join the team after the Jazz bought out his contract and cleared waivers, according to sources. The triple-double champion is also a solid addition for the Nuggets, as Westbrook could potentially complete his career in Denver as he enters his 19th season in the NBA. 

This is purportedly an expanded deal, as first reported by Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes on July 1, in which Dunn signed to a contract with the Clippers as an unrestricted free agency. Dunn will join the Clippers on a three-year, $17 million deal as part of the sign-and-trade, according to Haynes. 

The Clippers also traded a second-round selection and cash to the Jazz.  

The former MVP is officially leaving the Clippers following two seasons with the franchise, where he played as a starter and in rotation off the bench. Westbrook also spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as one year with the Washington Wizards in 2020-21 and the Houston Rockets in 2019-20. 

He spent the most of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, having been drafted in 2008 by the then-Seattle Super Sonics before the franchise was transferred to Oklahoma City the same year. 

With the Thunder, Westbrook competed in the 2012 NBA Finals, won MVP in 2016-17, and became the league’s all-time triple-double leader. 

Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP who urged for Westbrook to join the squad, is presently fourth all-time in triple-doubles. In 2016-17, Westbrook became the first player to average a triple-double in consecutive seasons.

That same year, he not only joined Robertson as the only players in league history to average a triple-double for the season, but he also shattered Robertson’s single-season record of 41, which had been set in 1961-62.

Last season with the Clippers, he averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. In last year’s playoffs, Westbrook averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Los Angeles fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round after losing the series 4-2. 

When Westbrook clears waivers, the Nuggets will be acquiring a senior player and nine-time NBA All-Star who has made an impact in the league with his athletic ability and intense gameplay every night on the court, as well as the ability to impart information to other players. 

So far, the Nuggets have dealt Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets, along with three unprotected second-round picks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also left the organization for free agency after signing a three-year contract with the Orlando Magic worth $66 million. Star guard Jamal Murray and the team were also allegedly negotiating a four-year, $209 million contract extension.