NBA Trade Idea Sends Russell Westbrook to Golden State Warriors

Could the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors make a Russell Westbrook trade?

Joey Linn | Jul 13, 2024

Mar 2, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook (0) between plays against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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The LA Clippers are exploring different trades for point guard Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets have expressed interest in Westbrook, but may opt to wait for a buyout after the Clippers made it clear they do not plan on keeping the 2017 NBA MVP.

With mutual interest existing between Westbrook and the Nuggets, it would make more sense for Denver to wait for a buyout as opposed to parting with assets to bring in the veteran point guard. This approach from Denver does run the risk of another team dealing for Westbrook, but when looking at the point guard landscape across the NBA, the Nuggets are the contender most in need of a veteran ball handler.

That said, a recent article from Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed a hypothetical Westbrook trade idea that lands the nine-time All-Star with the Golden State Warriors.

"If L.A. is as ready to move on as it seems, then flipping Westbrook for a three-and-D wing like Moody would make plenty of sense," Buckley wrote. "Minutes have proved surprisingly hard to come by for Moody in Golden State, but that hasn't been performance-related. He's been an above-average shooter from three (career 36.2 percent) and just turned his defensive box plus/minus into a positive."

Steph Curry on Russell Westbrook: “One thing about Russ, no matter what people say about him or how he’s playing, he competes. I know [the Clippers] love that about him. Every night he shows up and plays hard. That’s something you can’t teach. It’s kind of a lost art these days.” pic.twitter.com/P0XmXTdenV
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 16, 2023

Westbrook could help the Warriors a lot, specifically on the defensive end and in transition.

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Published Jul 13, 2024

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation 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 during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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