Dunn to the Clippers/Westbrook to the Nuggets

[bushybrah_]

Damn. Both LA boys Westbrook & Paul George don’t even get to play in the new Intuit Dome as a player for the team. That sucks.

[FrodoBaggins]

I can see it working solidly. With the bench and even the starters. Jokic is a great screener and he doesn't need the space other bigs need when rolling to the basket due to his floater and high-release mid-range game. And great passing. Westbrook not drawing much defensive attention in the PnR is less of a concern.

Russ + Zubac was a good PnR tandem and Ivica has the best floater/paint-extended game outside of Jokic.

Russ gives Denver an actual playmaker outside of Jokic. And there should be great cutting opportunities for him with Nikola's playmaking from the paint-extended/free-throw line/nail area. Not to mention the Nuggets like to play up-tempo, getting out in transition and inbounding fast for early offense.

Even if it's just to help them in the regular season it's still potentially a win. Jamal will inevitably miss 20-30+ games.

[FrodoBaggins]

The Westbrook with Zubac and without Harden lineup minutes tended to do well. I remember before they got Harden LAC was killing it. The [Westbrook, George, Leonard, Covington, Zubac] lineup was +38.4 in 50:51 minutes of game time. A small sample admittedly, but not too shabby.

I can see the [Westbrook, Braun/Murray, Porter, Gordon, Jokic] lineups functioning in a similar fashion. And he should help the bench units too.

[NZB2323]

Lots of discussion on Russ to Denver but almost nothing for Dunn to the Clippers. As a guy that is not really familiar with Dunn's work, what should Clipper fans expect from him? Does his acquisition improve them or make them worse? How?

As a Bulls fan he always reminded me of Chris Duhon. He’s very good at defense and passing but can’t score.

Does this make the Clippers better? I don’t know. They didn’t win in the first round without Paul George, and they’ll probably lose in the first round again.

Dunn, just like Westbrook, has clear strengths and weaknesses. He finished 11th in all-defensive voting in 2020 and almost made an all-defensive team, but he also has trouble staying healthy and his career averages are 7.9 ppg on a 49.9 TS%.

Keith Bogans is another Chicago Bull who is similar to KD. My favorite part about having him on my team was referring to him as KD.

[Dr Aki]

RIP Nuggets championship window 2023-2024

[SlimShady83]

Man when did this happen and damn I missed a tone ... haha. Go Russ.

[SlimShady83]

RIP Nuggets championship window 2023-2024

If they win the chip with Russ ... I will officially call Jokic "Jokic Is him" ...

[Bloodbather]

So many lazy takes in this thread.

Westbrook doesn't play the game the way he did in his prime. If you think so, you haven't been paying attention. He's slashed his 3PT attempts and turnovers, and committed more energy to playing defense, cutting, and screening. He also asked himself to be brought off the bench last season.

He's not coming in to replace KCP. That will fall on Braun and Strawther. He's really coming in to replace Bruce Brown a season late and to become that bench playmaker they lacked.

Good move, I can see why Jokic wanted him.

[John Murdoch]

So many lazy takes in this thread.

Westbrook doesn't play the game the way he did in his prime. If you think so, you haven't been paying attention. He's slashed his 3PT attempts and turnovers, and committed more energy to playing defense, cutting, and screening. He also asked himself to be brought off the bench last season.

He's not coming in to replace KCP. That will fall on Braun and Strawther. He's really coming in to replace Bruce Brown a season late and to become that bench playmaker they lacked.

Good move, I can see why Jokic wanted him.

Alrightt Russ, lets not make a scene

[Sharkboy242]

So many lazy takes in this thread.

Westbrook doesn't play the game the way he did in his prime. If you think so, you haven't been paying attention. He's slashed his 3PT attempts and turnovers, and committed more energy to playing defense, cutting, and screening. He also asked himself to be brought off the bench last season.

He's not coming in to replace KCP. That will fall on Braun and Strawther. He's really coming in to replace Bruce Brown a season late and to become that bench playmaker they lacked.

Good move, I can see why Jokic wanted him.

Yeah... Imagine doubting the IQ of Jokic here.

Clippers and Lakers were cooked with or without Westbrook.

Denver has the right culture for Westbrook. Every team Westbrick played with prior to this always had giant egos. He's going to be nice in a reduced role.

[durden_tyler]

Another headcase in LA. i wonder if this is intentional and Lue's plan is just to piss off the opposition. LOL

[FrodoBaggins]

EPM had Russ a +0.2 per 100 possession player in the 2023-24 regular season. Slightly above guys like Grayson Allen, Brandin Podz, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Al Horford, and Naz Reid to name a few. A +4.0 on-court and +1.8 on/off plus-minus net per 100 possessions over 2,164 minutes between 2023 and 2024.

He's been a solid roleplayer since leaving the Lakers and escaping that albatross contract. Has a unique skill set that can potentially provide some value to Denver. Could be a small positive on offense and defense.

[UcanUwill]

I have faith Jokic will turn Russ into a viable slasher/cutter in the Denver offense. They needed another ball handler too. I also like is competitiveness and intensity off the bench for this team. He should be a welcome sight in DEN.

Jokic- Jordon
Gordon- Saric
MPJ- Watson
Braun- Strawther
Murray- Westbrook

That team is still a Naz Reid away from doing legit damage.

This has to be worst bench lineup in the league, terrible, we have non NBA teams with comparable bench strength. Man. Denver had it, cheap folk let possible dynasty slip from their hands.

[AleksandarN]

EPM had Russ a +0.2 per 100 possession player in the 2023-24 regular season. Slightly above guys like Grayson Allen, Brandin Podz, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Al Horford, and Naz Reid to name a few. A +4.0 on-court and +1.8 on/off plus-minus net per 100 possessions over 2,164 minutes between 2023 and 2024.

He's been a solid roleplayer since leaving the Lakers and escaping that albatross contract. Has a unique skill set that can potentially provide some value to Denver. Could be a small positive on offense and defense.

An upgrade from Reggie Jackson that’s foresure. Also adding Saric and an another year of Strawther and Watson the bench will be improved.

[kobyz]

They want him yo be what Bruce Brown was for them

[og15]

Lots of discussion on Russ to Denver but almost nothing for Dunn to the Clippers. As a guy that is not really familiar with Dunn's work, what should Clipper fans expect from him? Does his acquisition improve them or make them worse? How?

He has embraced his role as a POA defender and is quite good at it. Gets steals, deflections and blocks from the PG spot. He can set the table a little bit, but still can't shoot with any type of consistency. He's a good minutes eater though. Positive +/-. When he was starting with Sexton and Lauri, Utah was winning games or dare I say, playing .500 ball. When they went into the tank, they benched Dunn or sat him for bogus injuries so they could hold onto their pick. He actually had a bounce back to his career in Utah.

TLDR: He's an upgrade over Westbrook just off the strength that he's an above-average defender. Not elite, but not many backup guards are better than him at it. If he shot 35% from 3, he would be a starter in this league full-time.

For the role Westbrook has been relegated to, which is POA defender, secondary ball handler and playmaker and spot up shooter, Dunn simply does all those things better, even shooting despite not being a good shooter (but improved in recent years).

[stoo]

I have faith Jokic will turn Russ into a viable slasher/cutter in the Denver offense. They needed another ball handler too. I also like is competitiveness and intensity off the bench for this team. He should be a welcome sight in DEN.

Jokic- Jordon
Gordon- Saric
MPJ- Watson
Braun- Strawther
Murray- Westbrook

That team is still a Naz Reid away from doing legit damage.

This has to be worst bench lineup in the league, terrible, we have non NBA teams with comparable bench strength. Man. Denver had it, cheap folk let possible dynasty slip from their hands.

it's actually
Westbrook
Strawther
Watson
Cancar
Saric.
That is not terible lineup at all.
it is expected that Nuggets are gonna stagger more this year.
Trey Alexander is almost a lock to replace westbrook when he leaves, and Holmes is back next season.
I like that 12man deep rotation

[nomansland]

I have faith Jokic will turn Russ into a viable slasher/cutter in the Denver offense. They needed another ball handler too. I also like is competitiveness and intensity off the bench for this team. He should be a welcome sight in DEN.

Jokic- Jordon
Gordon- Saric
MPJ- Watson
Braun- Strawther
Murray- Westbrook

That team is still a Naz Reid away from doing legit damage.

This has to be worst bench lineup in the league, terrible, we have non NBA teams with comparable bench strength. Man. Denver had it, cheap folk let possible dynasty slip from their hands.

it's actually
Westbrook
Strawther
Watson
Cancar
Saric.
That is not terible lineup at all.
it is expected that Nuggets are gonna stagger more this year.
Trey Alexander is almost a lock to replace westbrook when he leaves, and Holmes is back next season.
I like that 12man deep rotation

It's either gonna be decent or a disaster.

A lot depends on how much Watson improves his shooting and whether Strawther can hang on defense. I think they're going to deliver, for the most part, but it could be a bit bumpy at first.

A lot also depends on which Westbrook the Nuggets get. If they get last year's Westbrook he should be a decent fit. If they get the Lakers' Westbrook it could be ugly.

We don't know what to expect after Cancar's injury. Have to be honest about that one, it could be really rough. However, it could mean that Nnaji gets some minutes at the 4, where he really belongs, and it might be a pleasant surprise. Might be a train wreck too.

And if they try to camp Saric in the corner, he'll be useless. But if they get him involved in the playmaking and get him moving around it could work quite well. Malone's gotta devise some half court schemes for the 2nd unit that go beyond having the point guard dominate the ball and eventually shoot or drive to the rim.

It's premature to declare this the "worst bench ever!" but I'm not particularly psyched about it either. We'll just have to see.

[FrodoBaggins]

I can see it working solidly. With the bench and even the starters. Jokic is a great screener and he doesn't need the space other bigs need when rolling to the basket due to his floater and high-release mid-range game. And great passing. Westbrook not drawing much defensive attention in the PnR is less of a concern.

Russ + Zubac was a good PnR tandem and Ivica has the best floater/paint-extended game outside of Jokic.

Russ gives Denver an actual playmaker outside of Jokic. And there should be great cutting opportunities for him with Nikola's playmaking from the paint-extended/free-throw line/nail area. Not to mention the Nuggets like to play up-tempo, getting out in transition and inbounding fast for early offense.

Even if it's just to help them in the regular season it's still potentially a win. Jamal will inevitably miss 20-30+ games.

Also building on Westbrook's fit with Jokic: 1) Russ is great at post-entry passes, even within the PnR; 2) The reckless way Russ attacks the rim creates more offensive rebounds, putbacks, and tip-ins.

The second point sounds ridiculous but it tends to hold true throughout his career. It's covered in the Thinking Basketball video below.



https://youtu.be/8zhBVMAjAmA?feature=shared&t=248

[nomansland]

Nearly everyone who wants to (ahem, Nurkic), can fit with Jokic. I don't expect Westbrook and Jokic to share a ton of minutes though, unless Murray gets hurt.