Nikola Jokic Pushing Denver Nuggets to Acquire Russell Westbrook

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It was reported several places on Sunday that the LA Clippers are looking to trade nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook, and the Denver Nuggets are among the teams interested in acquiring him. Westbrook recently opted in to the final year of his contract with LA, but sources have indicated he did so knowing a trade was likely.
In an additional report on the potential Westbrook to Denver move, Harrison Wind of DNVR reported that 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokic has been pushing behind the scenes to get Westbrook on the Nuggets.
"Nikola Jokic has actually been pushing behind the scenes to get Westbrook to Denver," Wind said. "I've been told that Nikola Jokic wants Westbrook in Denver, he wants to play with him. It's not the first time he has wanted to play with him."
“Nikola Jokic has actually been pushing behind the scenes, to get Westbrook to Denver”
— 𝐊 𝐀 𝐒 𝐇✧⍣ (@TheKashKingston) July 1, 2024
Nikola Jokic is completely on board with the idea of Russell Westbrook being a Denver Nugget pic.twitter.com/5v1FokL1sw
Sources have confirmed that Jokic wants Westbrook in Denver, and he is not the only Nuggets veteran who has been pushing for a deal to get done. The Clippers are currently exploring all possible trades involving Westbrook, but even if he is not traded directly to the Nuggets, a team acquiring him could reach a buyout agreement that allows him to become a free agent and sign in Denver.
Several signs point to the 2023 champions being Westbrook's next team, and the fit makes sense for a lot of reasons.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.