Russell Westbrook Trade Rumors: Nikola Jokić 'Pushing' Nuggets to Get Clippers Star

Nikola Jokić appears to be recruiting a former NBA MVP to join the Denver Nuggets in 2024-25.

During an appearance on the DNVR Denver Nuggets Podcast, Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports reported that Jokić has been "putting in behind-the-scenes work" to help the Nuggets land Russell Westbrook in unrestricted free agency.

"I've been told that Nikola Jokić actually has been pushing behind the scenes to get Westbrook to Denver," Wind said. "I've been told that Nikola Jokić wants Westbrook in Denver. He wants to play with him. It's not the first time he's wanted to play with him."

Westbrook exercised his $4 million option with the Los Angeles Clippers for 2024-25, but the Clippers are reportedly "working on trades to move Westbrook."

While trading the 35-year-old within the Western Conference may not be the most appealing option for Los Angeles, surely it would be willing to send him there for the right price.

Westbrook is no longer the MVP-caliber player he used to be, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a valuable pickup for the Nuggets. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 68 games in 2023-24. He only made 11 starts and would likely take a bench role once again with Denver.

The Nuggets went 57-25 in 2023-24 and fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs. Denver won the NBA championship in 2022-23 and is still in a contention window, so adding Westbrook on a cheap deal as a depth piece could be beneficial to the team's chances.