RealGM Basketball Wiretap

27 July 2024

• Jazz Waive Darius Bazley, Kenneth Lofton Jr.

  The Utah Jazz have waived forwards Darius Bazley and Kenneth Lofton Jr.

  Bazley appeared in six games for the Jazz in 2023-24, averaging 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game.

  Lofton appeared in four games last season for Utah, with averages of 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest.

• Russell Westbrook Gave Up $1.7M In Buyout With Jazz

  Russell Westbrook gave up $1.7 million as part of his buyout agreement with the Utah Jazz, a source tells Keith Smith of Spotrac. The Jazz acquired Westbrook last week as part of a three-year, $17 million sign-and-trade with the LA Clippers for Kris Dunn. Westbrook is expected to sign with the Denver Nuggets.

  Westbrook, who is now represented by Jeff Schwartz after parting ways with his longtime agent Thad Foucher in 2022, averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes over 68 games with the Clippers last season. Westbrook re-signed with the Clippers in 2023 on a two-year, $8 million contract using his Non-Bird rights.

  When Westbrook joins the Nuggets, he will be on his sixth team (Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers) since 2019 when he was first traded.

• Jazz Interest In Brandin Podziemski Keeping Lauri Markkanen Trade Possible

  The Utah Jazz's interest in Brandin Podziemski is serious enough to keep the possibility of a Lauri Markkanen trade alive, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  It is believed that the Warriors prefer trading Jonathan Kuminga instead of Podziemski.

  The rumored trade offers for Markkanen include Moses Moody and draft compensation without including Kuminga or Podziemski.

  Markkanen becomes eligible to renegotiate-and-extend his current deal on August 6.

• Russell Westbrook Waived By Jazz

  The Utah Jazz have officially waived guard Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets are expected to sign Westbrook after he clears waivers.

  The Jazz acquired Westbrook from the LA Clippers as part of the Kris Dunn sign-and-trade. The Jazz previously acquired and then waived Westbrook at the 2023 trade deadline from the Los Angeles Lakers.

  Westbrook, who is now represented by Jeff Schwartz after parting ways with his longtime agent Thad Foucher in 2022, averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes over 68 games with the Clippers last season.

  In joining the Nuggets, Westbrook will play a reserve role and also be a spot starter. As the Nuggets move younger with the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson, the acquisition of Westbrook gives them a veteran presence. Depending on his corner three-point shooting, Westbrook will give the Nuggets a similar element they had in 2023 with Bruce Brown Jr.

• Clippers Send Balsa Koprivica, 2030 Second-Round Pick Swap, $4.3M To Jazz As Part Of Kris Dunn Trade

  The Los Angeles Clippers will send Balsa Koprivica, the right to swap second-round picks in 2030, and $4.3 million cash to the Utah Jazz as part of the Kris Dunn deal, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

  The trade included the Clippers sending Russell Westbrook to the Jazz.

  Westbrook, who agreed to a buyout with the Jazz, is expected to sign for the Nuggets.

• Russell Westbrook To Sign With Nuggets After Buyout With Jazz

  Russell Westbrook is expected to sign with the Denver Nuggets once he clears waivers following his buyout with the Utah Jazz. Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the Los Angeles Clippers' sign-and-trade for Kris Dunn. Westbrook was previously traded to and bought out by the Jazz in 2023 following his exit from the Los Angeles Lakers.

  In joining the Nuggets, Westbrook will play a reserve role and also be a spot starter. As the Nuggets move younger with the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson, the acquisition of Westbrook gives them a veteran presence. Depending on his corner three-point shooting, Westbrook will give the Nuggets a similar element they had in 2023 with Bruce Brown Jr.

  "I think we need some help in the backcourt," Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth told ''Altitude TV'' on Tuesday. "We are going to try to continue to identify that and survey the market. We have a roster spot left and I think if we can add a high-level guard, we will be happy with that."

  Westbrook, who is now represented by Jeff Schwartz after parting ways with his longtime agent Thad Foucher in 2022, averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes over 68 games with the Clippers last season. Westbrook's closest tie on the Clippers was Paul George, who also exited the team this offseason. Westbrook picked up his $4 million option with the Clippers to bypass free agency last month.

  After the Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs, a report surfaced that Westbrook had interest in leaving the franchise for a bigger opportunity next season. Westbrook and Nikola Jokic have long had interest in playing with each other.

• Clippers Acquire Kris Dunn On Three-Year, $17M Sign-And-Trade; Russell Westbrook To Be Bought Out By Utah

  The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired Kris Dunn in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz as they send out Russell Westbrook, a second round pick swap and cash. Westbrook will agree to a buyout with the Jazz for the second time in two years and then join the Denver Nuggets.

  Dunn will join the Clippers on a three-year, $17 million deal. Dunn, who is represented by Bernie Lee, averaged 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 18.9 minutes over 66 games last season with the Jazz.

  Westbrook, who is now represented by Jeff Schwartz after parting ways with his longtime agent Thad Foucher in 2022, averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22.5 minutes over 68 games with the Clippers last season. Westbrook's closest tie on the Clippers was Paul George, who also exited the team this offseason. Westbrook picked up his $4 million option with the Clippers to bypass free agency last month.

  After the Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs, a report surfaced that Westbrook had interest in leaving the franchise for a bigger opportunity next season. Westbrook and Nikola Jokic have long had interest in playing with each other.

• Jazz Focused On Brandin Podziemski, Draft Picks In Lauri Markkanen Trade Talks

  The Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors have reached an impasse, for now, in trade discussions for Lauri Markkanen. That blockage is around the inclusion of Brandin Podziemski and draft picks in a potential deal, according to NBA insider Shams Charania in a recent appearance on Sirus XM NBA Radio.

  The Jazz have asked for Podziemski and several unprotected picks and swaps in a trade. The Warriors are open to a deal involving Podziemski or significant draft compensation, but not both.

  If Utah is unable to trade Markkanen this summer, which would kick off a full rebuild, they are comfortable extending the All-Star forward's contract. Markkanen can work a renegotiation-and-extension of his deal on August 6 with the Jazz.

• Warriors Remain Most Engaged Team With Jazz On Lauri Markkanen Trade

  If the Utah Jazz actually have serious interest in trading Lauri Markkanen this offseason, the Golden State Warriors have been the most engaged interested team, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Warriors and Jazz have discussed a proposal centered around Moses Moody, multiple first round picks, pick swaps and multiple second round picks. The Jazz, however, have requested that type of package along with Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. The Warriors have maintained that a package including all three players is a non-starter.

  Markkanen maintains considerable leverage in the situation as he is scheduled to be a free agent in 2025 and would be unable to extend with any team that trades for him. The Jazz have the ability to use their cap space to do a renegotiate-and-extend agreement to bring his salary up to $33.1 million and build his new contract from there. Markkanen would have to give an assurance to a team trading for him that he has interest in signing a new contract in free agency. Markkanen could extend with the Jazz on August 6th and become trade eligible on the day of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.

  Markkanen, who is represented by Michael Lelchitski, averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 39.9 percent on three-pointers in 55 games last season for the Jazz. Markkanen was an All-Star in 22-23 and also was the Most Improved Player.

• Johnny Juzang, Jazz Agree To Four-Year, $12M Deal

  Johnny Juzang and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract. Juzang played the past two seasons with the Jazz on Two-Way deals and was a restricted free agent this offseason.

  In 20 games with the Jazz last season, Juzang averaged 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.6 minutes. Juzang also appeared in 22 G League games, averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 32.8 minutes.

  Juzang went undrafted in 2022 out of UCLA.