Amid this report, Shelburne dropped a Lakers-related nugget. Per the ESPN insider, Denver contemplated signing Westbrook after the Lakers traded him in 2023. She also added that Westbrook nearly played himself out of the NBA rather than accepting a bench role with LA.

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook may encounter a tight market in the event he opts out of his current deal and becomes a free agent. "I can't see another team doing it, but I never thought we would do it," one Nuggets source told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne about the idea of signing Westbrook.

The Nuggets decided against Russell Westbrook right before they won their first title. This year, they made the bold bet.