Making the Case: Los Angeles Lakers
At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers have to admit that the experiment did not work and move on from Westbrook. There is no coming back from the season whether you are Los Angeles or the point guard.
Now, it all depends on what the team wants to do with Westbrook. They have the option to move him in a trade if they find a partner or find a way to work his contract.
Is it possible that Los Angeles could wave and stretch Westbrook which would allow them to pay out his team option over the next three years. Instead of $47 million upfront, they would have the option to pay $15.6 million over the next three years.
In this particular deal, it would get the Lakers some help along the perimeter. He is a better score when healthy and can defend on the other end. This is where the Lakers struggle from the beginning of the season.
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The areas where the Lakers need to improve are clear and the front office will have to do what it can to make changes. Moving Westbrook and his contract should be at the top of the list. If the return is a healthy Hayward, that is just a win.
