8:04pm: The trade is official, according to an announcement from the Jazz, who also acquired the draft rights to Balsa Koprivica (the No. 57 pick in 2021) in the deal.
1:33pm: The Clippers are sending Russell Westbrook, a second-round pick swap, and cash to the Jazz in order to acquire free agent guard Kris Dunn via sign-and-trade, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links). The second-round swap will be for 2030, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic.
Westbrook is expected to reach a buyout agreement with Utah and eventually sign with the Nuggets once he clears waivers, according to Wojnarowski.
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears that Dunn will sign a three-year, $17MM contract. The final season of Dunn’s deal with Los Angeles will be a team option, per Woj (Twitter link).
Strangely, this will be the second time that Westbrook will be traded to — and then waived by — Utah in 17 months, with the first instance coming in February 2023. In this case, the Jazz are acquiring a second-round swap and some cash in exchange for using a small chunk of their cap room to take Westbrook’s salary off L.A.’s books.
The 35-year-old will earn a little over $4MM this season, while the minimum salary for a player with his amount of experience will earn about $3.3MM. We’ll have to wait and see how much he gives up in the buyout, but it’s safe to assume he’ll be on a minimum-salary deal with the Nuggets — it’s all they can offer due to their financial situation.
Westbrook exercised his player option this summer but reports came out almost immediately saying the Clips were working with him on a trade. He has essentially only been linked to Denver, which has an opening at backup point guard after salary dumping Reggie Jackson to Charlotte.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is reportedly a fan of Westbrook, who also received an endorsement from veteran center DeAndre Jordan. The nine-time All-Star and former MVP averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals on .454/.273/.688 shooting in 68 games with the Clips last season (22.5 minutes per contest).
Haynes reported on July 1 that Dunn would sign with the Clippers, with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports later stating that the two sides were working on sign-and-trade scenarios to open a wider salary range for the 30-year-old guard. It took a few weeks, but a deal has finally come to fruition.
The fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, Dunn didn’t live up to his draft billing in Minnesota or Chicago during the early years of his career, but has evolved into a solid rotation piece in recent years. Dunn spent the past two seasons in Utah, where he provided solid, versatile defense in the Jazz’s backcourt and earned praise from head coach Will Hardy for his voice in the locker room.
In 88 total appearances (35 starts) across two seasons in Utah, Dunn averaged 7.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .497/.395/.741.
Intriguing
Kris Dunn
with a shooting line of .497/.395
Comparable to Lauri Markanen?
Kris Dunn’s comeback to the NBA can be considered complete. Incredible story. Out of the league after profound injuries, used the NBA G League to reclaim his skills, worked his way back into the NBA on 10-day contracts, now traded for a future Hall of Famer. Inspirational journey.
And another example as to why the Jazz are a great organization again…
Great place to reclaim your career and reestablish your value. But how many championships?
Great organization? Okay nice place to play no distractions but how about winning? I think they’re still working on that part.
Fair point Gary, but if you are trying to win a championship in a non-major city is there a better VP than Danny?
Just kidding yes agreed but only if he pulls an OKC and makes a run for it one of these years. You can’t just continue to be enamored with stockpiling draft picks.
One team a year wins a title. 15 players out of how many. Not everyone is going to win one, and that shouldn’t take away from accomplishment that are hard to pull off in it’s own right. Although, admittedly, I first thought of Shaun Livingston with Ekstrand’s description.
Yes on Shaun Livingston !! Good call.
and now Dunn is gone, the Jazz have minutes for Podziemski when GSW trades him and some picks for Lauri!
Not happening
let me dream, darnit!!
Ooooohhhh Davey.
Dunn gets a nice contract out of this.
Westbrook the triple double first ballot hall of famer is just another jouneyman and has been for awhile… He either should retire after this season or just go to China now.
Why is Russ first ballot? I get the NBA HOF is very easy to get into, but “first ballot” should be reserved for elite players with rings. The way Russ played/plays, this “stat collecting” style, will never win a title in this league.
He’s literally a former MVP which is the definition of an elite player.
There’s also no “NBA HOF” it’s the BASKETBALL HOF, of which Russ’s contributions to the sport have been immeasurable over a 15 year period.
Yeah but he just stat collected and had a 1st round exit that season, all of Kawhi, Lebron, Steph and KD were more valuable to their teams that season, I still don’t understand why it wasn’t a tie between Steph and KD that year, honestly pretty stupid to go “Oh they cancel each other out” no, they won the title because of them both. Idiotic logic.
Westbrook and Hardens MVP’s are totally fraudulent and should be re-done to show the more actual-valuable and better player was in those 3 seasons, plenty of better candidates in all 3 of those years.
I cannot get over how hard the leagues media hated Steph Curry so much. Like, why? He made the game interesting to watch again, picking it up after it got bogged down by bigs playing touch-rugby.
If you don’t think Russ is 1st ballot, its just a reflection on your basketball IQ. Love him or hate him he is an absolute lock and its well deserved.
He’s obviously first ballot. If you don’t get why that’s on you.
9th in all time in assists.
24th in all time points
69th in all time rebounds.
Like him or not that’s first ballot all da way.
“69th in all time rebounds”
Not making ‘da’ argument you think it is. :D
Westbrook should go in the Hall of Fame as a Jazzman. He’s had more stints with them than any other team he’s played for.
They should retire his jersey.
That’s funny. Best line in this thread
“triple double first ballot hall of famer”? What is your issue with Westbrook.
Look what he has become! Nothing but another jouneyman with all that talent. He played selfishly, stats, no teamwork, didmt adjust his hame with age, always whining, and never winning… for the last few yrs, less and less teams want him. It’s very unfortunate…. I do admire his play and attitude with the Clippers but it’s too late. This is Wedtbrick’s last season in nba.
“It’s very unfortunate”
Your take is very unfortunate.
Westbrook is happy as all get out. He isn’t bummed out about playing off the bench at this stage in his career. No one cares but people like you.
Guys decline as they get older. It’s inevitable. Cudos to him for the career he’s had!
I’ve never been a Westbrook fan, but no one can question his effort. ALWAYS played hard, and is definitely going in first ballot
Obviously Danny Ainge’s loudmouthed “big game hunting” proclamations are as solid as an ear to a rifle bullet.
Within the past 17 months the Jazz have now paid Westbrook twice a total of $20 MM just to go away. About as much as they gave Markkanen over that time frame.
That’s one well-run winning franchise.
Good one dad
I keep saying I wish GSW would call Ainge every day to keep selling him on “Podziemski and 2 firsts for 1 year of Lauri is enough” but now I’m thinking 1 year of Lauri is probably only worth 1 first and 1 second!
Waldee, why did the Jazz have all this cap room and saving salaries so they can take on a guy for a measly second round pick swap?
Reminds me of one of my teammates in college, we’d get our meal money and he put half of it in his pocket and eat pancakes for dinner. “Dude what are you doing, have a healthy meal.”
No I’m saving the money.
Okay makes no sense. Just like the jazz. Makes no sense if they’re trying to win LOL.
One of these years Utah has to become the OKC Thunder and go for it. I don’t see it happening and Ainge will continue to stockpile intangible future assets. After markelle fultz and Pierce Garnett I think he’s hooked on draft pick acquisitions/hoarding.
I think Waldo just has a personal vendetta against the Jazz. Articles about the Jazz seem to be the only ones he comments on. His mom must have had some unseemly relationships with a missionary or something.
As far as Ainge going “big game hunting” well sometimes you miss, they were in talks with the Nets for Bridges before the Knicks pulled the trigger. The off season also isn’t over with. I could see them taking a flyer on LaVine if the Bulls sweeten the pot and make it worth it for them to take on his contract like they did with John Collins. If LaVine bounces back we’ll then great, if not then just keep accumulating assets.
Waldfee’s entire existence on this site is dedicated to trashing anything he disagrees with. He does it constantly.
When exactly did OKC go for it? How many more championships do they have over the Jazz. Danny realizes the difference between moves that make you a championship team and moves that get get you to the conference semifinals. Saving money to invest instead of eating a little better is a great idea, but here you are however many years later mocking it. LOL you still think you are smarter.
I think OKC is going for it right now. They’ve tasted a little success and there getting on their horses this year.
Re-reading your comment Waldee, I think I missed your point. I think we’re saying the same thing LOL.
Again, they said this with the option to pivot if nothing worth it materialized.
They definitely could’ve had Bridges from the Nets, but they didn’t, ironically, want to overpay for him. The Knicks did, however. Not a whole lot of other decent options available. They were either too old for the Jazz’s timeline or not worth the money they’re asking for.
Honestly, I think they really wanted to tank this season for Cooper Flagg. So everything else was a half attempt.
I wouldn’t exactly call how Ainge said it as loudmouthed. He was just presenting the options the Jazz could go this Summer. That was one of them.
As for winning, they haven’t been trying to win for 2 seasons now. Look at the 6 rookies they got in that timeframe now. All 6 are promising.
But that also means that this year will be rough as well. But that’s what many Jazz fans have been saying they want, to tank for real this time, for Cooper Flagg.
Those first two seasons were fools gold. They start the season great! So then they let them play to win to see how good they were.
However, eventually they’d see they weren’t good enough. So they’d tank the rest of the year and trade who didn’t fit their future winning profile.
It’s been annoying but the Jazz have come away with lots of promising young players. Most of these picks used have been from trades. So I wouldn’t say they’re stockpiling for nothing.
I really do hope they fully commit to tanking this year. They really need that MVP type alpha. Someone that can galvanize their team’s future to something worth building around.
Obviously Westbrook wasnt producing much so it’s not like Dunn couldnt replace his spot on the team production wise. But, if Russ is gone, PG is gone what could it mean for Kawhi or Harden who are close to those guys and wanted them to be on the team. Maybe they are the next pieces to fall…
Clippers just resigned both guys to big money. Stuck with them now specially Kawhi leonard. He’s unreliable as far as games played and he’s making nearly Max dollars the next 3 years. Stuck.
Nearly the same with harden. Big money and too many questions.
What??? Yea I don’t see Dunn being worth 3/17. I don’t trust those shooting splits.
Dunn is primarily a slasher but he did shoot very well from 3 for the Jazz. His shot is just a bit slow. However, he’s often left open so he has the time.
Jazz fans love and will miss Dunn. He makes the season fun with his personality! We just realize that the Jazz are likely going to tank again and he wants to win more. We wish him well!
He’s a self-centered, immature punk @ss who loses control of his emotions way too easily. The Nugs will never win a ring with a cancer like him on the roster.
As with some of us, I think he has matured a bit since his younger days. I think he appreciates the game and the opportunity and is a willing contributor in the locker room and with his experiences.
I think he’s changed and he’ll help the nuggets if and when he joins the team.
I also can understand him being pretty ego-driven in his youth. He’s a 6-2 Incredible World Class athlete for his first 10 years and no one could out jump him, no one was faster, and he could do whatever he wanted on the floor. I can understand why he’d be pretty obnoxious for a while.
I’ve never seen a dude in any sport whose reputation among the punks in the general fan population is as different from the actual man as for Westbrook. Dude is beloved around the league and is one of the most well adjusted, genuinely good guys in professional sports.
LOL! Define “well adjusted”. You mean like how he throws a temper tantrum any time things don’t go his way? It’s really amazing to me he has so many apologists. I’ve seen him play live numerous times, and seen the way he carries himself, and not once did I see anything that came close to “well adjusted” or a “good guy”.
BlueMeanie is the one who seems emotional.
Bluemeanie turned into the Blueweanie with that rant.
What does that even mean?
If you can’t handle a difference of opinion just say so.
Happy for Russ. Just play to win bro ….
This team can go far.
Never underestimate the desire to win a ring. By a future HOFer …… go get it
Cool
where do i get a westbrook jazz jersey?
Which year? Lol
Westbrook’s Jazz jersey is right next to Pat Beverly’s Jazz jersey.
Is there a Dominique Wilkins jersey too
That’s the running joke with Jazz fans as well. I bet it’d sell well. Lol
i want to add it to my hawks rasheed wallace jersey collection lol.
Utah has been the most solid team for Russ, twice, and he’s never even showed up let alone played a game.
It’s funny because Westbrook did talk to the coaching staff about actually playing for the Jazz. I’m sure he would’ve enjoyed the lack of pressure compared to the Lakers and Bron. Just didn’t line up with the Jazz having Keyonte and already had Dunn as backup.
Now he’s being traded for Dunn and the timeline still doesn’t line up because the Jazz drafted Collier as one of the PG slots.
It’s too bad because Westbrook and Collier are similar in some ways. Would be nice to have a vet help him for a bit. Maybe the Jazz could waive him later in the season?
Westbrook has had some issues with the fans in Utah. He simply has no self control. All players get ribbed from time to time. The Jazz fans discovered early on how sensitive RW was, and they played him like a fool!
I mean Utah has a history of saying racist things to player…not just Russ.
Reason why no African American stars even consider going there in FA or have them on their list as trade destination. Karl Malone was drafted there but grew up in south and was a creep. Mitchell and Gobert signed extensions because they had no where else to go and got paid more.
I agree some fans are pretty bad in Utah but the ones that are are an exception. I don’t live in Utah but I do go to a lot of games as it’s only a 215 mile drive and if I’m a fan of any team it’d be Utah and Portland.
We embraced Jordan Clarkson, he’s probably the most most beloved player to play there since Gordon Hayward. We loved Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson. 95% percent of the fans are great, it’s just the s h i t t y ones that stick out.
Does he draw a chk from Jazz ??
Hope Russ helps contribute, he has a great motor still and stamina. His pace in that altitude can really tire an opponent out. He will be manning the 2nd unit most of the time and may play with MPJ and Gordon other shooters. I don’t know how much time he plays with Jokic, but Jokic will handle the ball most of the time and can find Russ cutting. Murray is a better shooter so the 2 man game won’t work the same unless Russ gets back to mid range shots.
This does not sound like a good trade for the Clippers. Russ is a way better player than Dunn and we gave them money and swap picks? This does not make sense.
I think what the Clippers are looking for here in this exchange is stability. You know what you’re going to get from Kris Dunn.
Westbrook is kind of a kamikaze, not sure what you’re going to get (outside of 100% effort,) offensively or defensively. He’s the Tasmanian devil flying around everywhere and for some teams that could be perfect coming off the bench.
Clippers had it, tried it, probably liked it, but just going in a different direction right now. More of a sure thing you know what you’re getting even though he’s not starter material you still know what you’re getting.
Dunn’s never going to fly off the handle once or twice a season etc. Not a knock on Russ. For some teams he’s going to be the perfect fit.