3 Major Questions Lakers Face After Playoff Elimination

Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
NBA Analysis Network

2. What Is Next For Russell Westbrook?

The acquisition of Russell Westbrook was a huge gamble for the Los Angeles Lakers. The risk was that it would blow up in their faces, which is what occurred. The reward was having a future Hall of Famer combined with two more in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to create a dominant trio.

The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t close to contending this season despite being picked as a favorite heading into the season.

Trading for Westbrook is a big reason for that, as it handcuffed the team when filling out the roster.

Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn are the only players on the team that have a contract smaller than a max but larger than a veteran’s minimum. That is not ideal for having roster flexibility, and the Lakers learned that the hard way.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Reveals Plans For Lakers Future

Figuring out what is next with him is imperative. The Big 3 didn’t log a ton of time together, but the results weren’t great, with a net rating of -3.5 in 393 minutes. They struggled mightily on the defensive end with a Defensive Rating of 110.6.

Trading Westbrook is a tall task but one the team has to consider, even if it means parting ways with draft compensation. They cannot afford to run it back with essentially the same roster and expect the results to change.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Reveals Plans For Lakers Future

Trading Westbrook for a package of players to restock the depth on the team should be what the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to do. However, finding a team willing to help facilitate that is easier said than done.

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