It's deja vu all over again for the Utah Jazz and Russell Westbrook. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Jazz will acquire Westbrook in a sign-and-trade with the Clippers in exchange for Kris Dunn.
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
Wojnarowski then added that the Jazz will buy out Westbrook, to which he will then sign with the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook is expected to agree on a contract buyout with the Jazz, clearing the way for him to eventually join the Denver Nuggets after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/ld4gsMPUhl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2024
The Jazz won't have to worry about cap implications since they already have plenty of cap space and have nothing to worry about long-term. Westbrook's current contract is expiring after 2025. What's even crazier is that this is not the first time this has happened.
The Jazz acquired Russell Westbrook in 2023 only to do the same
The Jazz helped the Lakers and Timberwolves out during the 2023 NBA trade deadline when they agreed to acquire Westbrook while shipping out Mike Conley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The funny thing is, the first time it actually took a while for the Jazz to waive Westbrook. There were even some talks of him sticking around in Utah to finish the season. However, the Jazz granted him his deed, and bam, he was a Clipper.
Now the same happens again where the Jazz waive Westbrook only to later help a team trying to win a title. First it was the Clippers, and now it's the Nuggets. Luckily this shouldn't come back to bite the Jazz in the long-term since they are not in a position to win anytime soon.
To be fair, though, it's a rare phenomenon to see a player - especially a former MVP - be dumped on the same team twice, only for them to waive him both times. No one is questioning the Jazz's motives in either sense. They have no use for Westbrook. On the flip side, there isn't much to gain from him playing for them.
The Jazz have plenty of other pressing issues at the moment, like whether or not they truly want to trade Lauri Markkanen away. But any news at this point of the offseason is still exciting, no matter how inconsequential it is.
If anything, what would truly put a cherry on all the Russell Westbrook-Jazz connection would be if he actually finishes his career in Utah.