Denver Nuggets veteran backup guard Russell Westbrook reportedly turned down his 3.46 million player choice for next season and became an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
Russell Westbrook
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Nuggets now have the flexibility to use the $5.7 million tax intermediate exception, as they are $10.6 million lower than the second apron next season.
Denver is expected to be a luxury tax team for its fourth straight season. Since Denver is a repeater tax team (four consecutive years), the current luxury tax penalty is the highest $36 million for a franchise before filling the roster.
However, Westbrook rejected his player choice, which provided some savings for the Nuggets. Dario Saric also has to choose his $5.42 million contract for next season by June 29.
Westbrook is 37 years old this year and signed with Denver in July last year. In 75 games this season (36 games), he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 27.9 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard also shot 44.9% from the field, shot 32.3% from three-pointers and 66.1% from the free throw line. His player efficiency rating (14.3) is also a low-career.
Westbrook underwent surgery on his right hand
Westbrook had surgery on his right hand last month to repair multiple ligament tears, the team announced. In the Nuggets playoffs, the two-time NBA scoring champions also had several fingers in the Nuggets playoffs.
But Westbrook said in his personal newsletter that he was undergoing surgery to repair “two breaks that happened during the season.” He is expected to resume full offseason training this summer after the surgery.
“This morning, my right hand surgery was about to fix the two rest periods that happened this season,” Westbrook wrote. “I thank everyone for their support throughout the year and I can’t wait to get back there as soon as possible. A comeback has begun.”
Westbrook averaged 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 1,237 NBA Pro regular season games (1,075 games), and made 1.6 steals with the Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Lakers, Clippers and Blocks.
According to basketball reference, Westbrook is the NBA’s triple-double professional leader (203), ranking eighth (9,925) and 23rd (26,205) in assists (9,925).
However, the 17-year veteran is still seeking his first NBA title.
