Nuggets’ Updated Roster, Salary Cap After Russell Westbrook’s Reported $6.8M Contract

The Denver Nuggets agreed to sign veteran point guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year, $6.8 million contract on Friday that includes a player option for the 2025-26 season, according to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania.

Westbrook was free to sign with any team after he was waived by the Utah Jazz following a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Here’s a look at the Nuggets’ updated depth chart and salary cap space following Friday’s move.

Nuggets Depth Chart

Based on the terms of the reported agreement, the buyout in Utah and Denver’s lack of flexibility under the cap, Westbrook is presumably signing for the veteran’s minimum this season.The team was into the luxury tax and only $8.5 million away from the second apron for 2024-25 before accounting for the nine-time All-Star.

The franchise’s precarious financial position is why the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hurt so much. Once Caldwell-Pope signed his three-year, $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic, there was no way to adequately replace a player who averaged 10.1 points per game and shot 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Westbrook at least gives the Nuggets some needed depth in the backcourt.

They don’t have a lot of experience at the guard positions behind Jamal Murray. Christian Braun and Peyton Watson both only have two years under their belt. Jalen Pickett was a second-round pick in 2023. Trey Alexander is an undrafted rookie who signed a two-way deal.

Westbrook performed reasonably well in a reserve role for Los Angeles. He put up 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes per game. He continued to struggle as a shooter but made 45.4 percent of his field-goal attempts overall.

The Nuggets were 25th in made threes (11.7 per game) and Westbrook certainly won’t help much in that regard. His value to a contending team is also relatively limited at this point, especially when compared to his peak with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This is where it’s helpful to remember Denver is ultimately adding a backup point guard on a small contract. The front office isn’t expecting Westbrook to be the missing piece of a championship formula.

From that perspective, it’s about as much the 2023 NBA champion can do at this stage of the offseason.