Report: Nikola Jokic pushing for the Nuggets to get Russell Westbrook

Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic is reportedly pushing for the team to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jokic went to the Nuggets front office and requested Russ pic.twitter.com/ZahGrKCscb

— clippers fan (@wembyszns) July 1, 2024

“I’ve been told that Nikola Jokic actually has been pushing behind the scenes to get Westbrook to Denver,” said Nuggets insider Harrison Wind. “I’ve been told that Nikola Jokic wants Westbrook in Denver. He wants to play with him. It’s not the first time he’s wanted to play with him.”

On Sunday, it was reported that the Clippers are actively trying to trade Westbrook, who recently picked up his player option worth about $4 million for the 2024-25 season.

Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer reported that the Nuggets are interested in Westbrook, and it seems like the interest in mutual. Wind also mentioned that Westbrook “wants to come to Denver.”

The Nuggets are showing interest in Russell Westbrook, per @JakeLFischer pic.twitter.com/vDgbRD9Pd4

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 30, 2024

A spark plug off the bench for Denver?

Apr 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates after a dunk on a pass from guard James Harden (1) in the first half during game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

For much of the last two seasons, Westbrook has come off the bench. He’s been able to reinvent himself as a decent sixth man, a role that he seemingly would play in Denver if he were to join the Nuggets.

Denver just lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic, and youngster Christian Braun could take Caldwell-Pope’s spot in the starting lineup.

Braun moving to the starting lineup would leave a massive hole on Denver’s bench, a unit that struggled for much of last season. The Nuggets bench was 25th in the league in scoring at 29.4 points per game during the 2023-24 regular season.

Things didn’t get much better in the playoffs, as the unit was second to last at 14.8 points per game.

The Nuggets are hoping to reload after getting beaten by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Denver went 57-25 during the 2023-24 regular season, but seemed to run out of gas against Minnesota.

Perhaps acquiring Westbrook from the Clippers will give the Nuggets what they need in order to win their second title in franchise history.

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