NBA Free Agency: Russell Westbrook Could Aid Nuggets’ Financial Crisis After Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s $66 Million News Crushes Ex-Champs

The free agency discussions are in full swing as NBA insiders and analysts keep us posted on the moves. 2024 is arguably the most star-laden free agency with so many upsets in the standings. With the King himself keeping everyone on the edge of their seats with his LA-bound decision, another veteran star trying to decide his future is none other than the Los Angeles native, Russell Westbrook.

The trusted insider, Shams Charana of The Athletic and Stadium, joined Inside the Association Free Agency Special to give us live updates. According to Charania, a Westbrook-Denver move is very much a possibility. Reportedly, the Nuggets have shown “a level of interest, as well as a mutual interest between Westbrook and [Denver].”

The 9x All-Star had decided to remain with LA on a $4 million player option rather than test free agency. However, there’s a twist.

The Nuggets just cleared $5 million off their books by salary-dumping Reggie Jackson on the Charlotte Hornets. With that move, they have about $8.7 million in space before hitting the first apron. The main idea behind it was to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. However, Adrian Wojnarowski just tweeted that Pope was close to making his move to Orlando official.

“Finalizing three-years, $66 million for Caldwell-Pope in Orlando, sources tell ESPN,” Woj wrote on X.

Now that Caldwell-Pope is out of the equation, the Nuggets still have enough room under the first apron to sign Russell Westbrook and still get a quality role player or lure in a star. While the latter part might push them over the first apron, Denver is about $19.5 million under the second apron. As we wait for further news, let’s take a closer look into Westbrook with the Nuggets.

Russell Westbrook could find himself continuing in the Clippers with the ‘Mile High City’ as well

Suffice it to say that when Charania casually broke the news of the 9x All-Star’s potential move to the Nuggets, the NBA fans were just as surprised as the Free Agency Special hosts. In fact, the most shocked among the trio was former Detroit Pistons GM, Pat Garrity. “Denver’s weakness has always been the depth,” Garrity stated.

“The disparity between the starters performers and the bench performers has been no secret over the last couple of years or so. So, if this means that Russell Westbrook is willing to come off the bench and provide some offense and some juice to the second unit, I think it’d be really interesting,” he further explained.

In his short stint with Los Angeles, the ‘Beastbrook’ was quite a success off the bench. In fact, that was the role he wholeheartedly played after James Harden’s arrival. And the results were an incredibly productive regular season. Of course, it was nothing like his previous years, but then that was expected. His stat line read 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 45.4% from the field as well as finishing 6th in the Sixth Man of the Year Award voting.

However, Russ didn’t find the same success in the postseason. It was, in a word, underwhelming.

Westbrook shot 26.0% from the field while scoring 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in six games. The Mavs practically bullied him, daring to shoot the ball. And as former Celtics champion, Tony Allen noted, Denver’s “offense is predicated to the Big ‘Joker’ and he is looking for shooters… and [Westbrook] is no Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.“ 

As for the Nuggets’ three-point stats, the ‘Centennial State’ might have the smallest number of treys on average in the regular season (31.2), but they did so with the 10th-best conversion rate (37.4) in the NBA. So, how all of this comes together, if the deal goes through, that is, is going to be interesting.

What do you think of the whole scenario? Will Russ be a good fit among the Nuggets? Or would it be better for him to find someplace else to call home? Let us know your thoughts on the matter.

 But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonard Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.

Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!