The Denver Nuggets have had a crazy summer, and their biggest mistake might be unfolding later this month.
The Nuggets have been one of the top teams in the league throughout the Nikola Jokic era, but finding the perfect fits alongside the Serbian star has been difficult. While Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon provide some star-level counterparts, the rest of the Nuggets’ depth has been somewhat questionable for most of Jokic’s tenure.
Of course, 2023 was an exception, with Denver securing an NBA title and having one of the top eight-man rotations in the league. After a couple of years of limited depth since, the Nuggets made some strides to address that this summer. However, they might be losing their most valuable piece of depth in the process.
Russell Westbrook ready to find a new home.
Last season, Russell Westbrook was a star role player, quickly building chemistry with Jokic and being one of the most important players on the squad. That continued into the playoffs, with Westbrook being instrumental in defeating his former team, the LA Clippers, in the first round.
After declining his player option for next season, Westbrook has entered September without a new home. However, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus seems to believe that the former MVP will soon end up in Sacramento.
Pincus explained that Westbrook could still fit into Denver’s plans financially, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense from a roster construction standpoint, leading him to perhaps sign with the Kings on a two-year minimum deal with a player option in year two.