Grade the Trade: Nuggets unite MVP winners; make Jokic happy in mock Clippers deal
By Dalton Sell
The Denver Nuggets have been among the quieter teams in the league this off-season, as they've mostly stood pat in terms of roster retooling.
Sure, they added DaRon Holmes II via the draft and Dario Saric via free agency, but it feels like more moves are bound to come, even if they're just to sharpen the roster's edges. One player Denver is known to have an interest in is Russell Westbrook of the LA Clippers, per DNVR's Harrison Wind. He notes that Westbrook is one of their two main targets this off-season; Saric was the other player.
Losing KCP sucks. There’s no way around that. But ever since it feels like there’s been a rush to panic about the Nuggets’ offseason — like Denver’s quiet start to free agency. Their two targets were Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. They got one and are on track to get both.
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) July 9, 2024
The LA Clippers are a team on the opposite side of the spectrum of Denver this off-season, making countless moves to combat the loss of Paul George, who bolted to the Philadelphia 76ers once free agency opened. It feels like moving on from Westbrook may be their next move.
In a recent piece crafting a mock trade for every team, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley put together a mock between Denver and Los Angeles that would help relocate Westbrook to the Mile High City.
The mock trade between the Nuggets and Clippers
Nuggets/Clippers
The deal is straightforward. Denver sheds Zeke Nnaji's $8.9 million salary, and the following two years plus a player option, to the Clippers along with a second-round pick for Westbrook and his $4 million salary. Recent rumors, which we'll get into, suggest that this is something Denver truly may consider.
Let's look at the perspective of both teams in this deal that would bring together two former league MVP winners and hand each of them a grade.