Justin Lawrence Has Right Stuff To Be Rockies’ Closer — If He Can Harness It

The long-anticipated addition of Russell Westbrook to the Denver Nuggets roster is … almost official. The former MVP has signed a contract that will make him the Nuggets’ second free-agent signing of the summer, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The deal is for two years and $6.8 million, according to The Athletic, with the second year a player option. Westbrook came off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers last season, averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field.

Attendance Did not practice: Physically Unable to Perform list — S Caden Sterns (knee), S Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) and LB Drew Sanders (Achilles). Non-Football Injury list — RB Blake Watson (muscle strain). Out — OLB Nik Bonitto, OL Nick Gargiulo. Dropped out — S Brandon Jones (hamstring) Payton told reporters after practice that Jones “tweaked” his hamstring and was being evaluated.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II views himself as the top cornerback in the league, and rightfully so. At some point, Denver will likely have to pay him as such. Surtain is eligible for a contract extension, which could make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history. His teammate and fellow 2021 draft pick Quinn Meinerz landed a lucrative extension before camp, but Surtain said Friday that he doesn’t have a set date on when he wants a deal to get done.

Cal Quantrill has been everything the Rockies hoped he’d be. Tenacious, effective, and unafraid of the beast known as Coors Field. But don’t expect the 29-year-old right-hander to be part of the Rockies’ long-term future. However, there is a chance Quantrill could be moved before Tuesday’s trade deadline. According to major league sources, the Rockies have received phone calls about Quantrill but no firm offers yet.

Training camp gets long fast and then short quickly. The grueling part of the Broncos’ schedule is here. The team’s on the field 10 of 11 days through next week. At some point, it will undoubtedly feel like Groundhog Day. Still, waypoints are not far ahead. The pads come on Monday. Denver’s first preseason game is Aug.

Heading into the biggest fight of his life, Curtis Blaydes is ignoring all the naysayers. With heavyweight champion Jon Jones holding out for a matchup against Stipe Miocic, does Blaydes’ interim heavyweight title bout against Tom Aspinall mean as much? Should Blaydes be mentioned in the same breath as Jones, who is perhaps the greatest fighter ever? Blaydes, a Golden resident, doesn’t care about those storylines.