Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again

For the second time in 18 months, the Jazz have traded for former MVP Russell Westbrook. And for the second time, he won’t play for the team.

On Thursday, the Jazz signed-and-traded veteran guard Kris Dunn to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for a second-round pick swap, Russell Westbrook, and cash. Then, Westbrook will be bought out of his deal, with the intention of signing with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the trade.

The Jazz’s Dunn, a fiery veteran defensive point guard, had already decided to sign with the Clippers. But by making the transaction into a sign and trade, the Clippers can sign Dunn to a reported 3-year, $17 million contract without using any of their salary cap exceptions.

The Jazz, meanwhile, get a second-round pick swap for their troubles. The cash will cover the cost of waiving Westbrook, though his roughly $4 million salary will still count against the Jazz’s salary cap in 2024-25.

Then, the Nuggets will be able to sign Westbrook, now 35, to a minimum-salary deal. That presumes he makes it through the NBA’s waiver process, in which any team would be able to pick up his current contract.

If this all seems vaguely familiar, you’re right: the Jazz completed a transaction in Feb. 2023 in which they acquired Westbrook, only to buy him out of his contract afterwards. Westbrook, along with a top-4 2027 protected pick from the Los Angeles Lakers, was the return for trading Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Timberwolves, plus Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley to the Lakers.

This story will be updated.

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Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again

Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again

Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again

Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again

Jazz trade for Russell Westbrook, plan to buy him out again