Throughout the next few months, there are going to be a ton of headlines involving the Los Angeles Lakers. They are already on the search for a new head coach, as Frank Vogel was relieved of his duties almost immediately after the NBA regular-season finale.
The coaching staff isn’t the only area of the team that will get a facelift. There is still a chance that the front office sees some changes, as Rob Pelinka is on the hot seat. His construction of the roster for the 2021-22 season proved costly, as the Lakers didn’t even qualify for the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The biggest swing and miss was acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. There may not be a player mentioned in more trade rumors and mock deals than Westbrook this summer.
Los Angeles has to figure out what to do with their embattled point guard as things never clicked. Part of that can be attributed to LeBron James and Anthony Davis constantly being out of the lineup, but even when they weren’t on the court, Westbrook never looked comfortable, struggling to find a niche.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Gets Brutally Honest About ‘Unfair’ Role With Los Angeles Lakers
Moving on from him will be easier said than done. While he didn’t say he would opt into his $47 million player option for the 2022-23 season, it would be shocking if he didn’t. He won’t come close to recouping that kind of money on the open market, especially after the season that he had.
His value around the league has also reportedly tanked. According to the Los Angeles Times, Westbrook is not viewed highly around the league.
“To other teams, Westbrook represented a one-year problem on the books as a way to erase long-term commitments to other players,” Woike reported. “Some scouts and executives around the league don’t view Westbrook as a useful player at this stage, especially with a nearly $50 million price tag.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Gets Brutally Honest About ‘Unfair’ Role With Los Angeles Lakers
Yes, the price tag is high. But, this could also be some posturing by people around the league looking to get the most out of a potential deal centered around Westbrook. Moving long-term deals that no longer fit a team’s vision is certainly one goal. The draft compensation would be another.
Floating out the idea that Westbrook is such a negative asset could result in a more favorable deal for whichever franchise the Los Angeles Lakers deal with. If people are being honest about his value, Westbrook can still be a valuable player in the right situation.
There aren’t many teams that have that situation readily available, but Westbrook didn’t forget how to play basketball in the span of one year as it would seem. He is only one season removed from averaging a triple-double with the Wizards and carrying them, along with Bradley Beal, into a spot in the postseason.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Gets Brutally Honest About ‘Unfair’ Role With Los Angeles Lakers
Not as explosive as he once was now that he is moving toward his age-34 season with plenty of wear and tear on his body, it is easy to write Russell Westbrook off. But you know he will be motivated to put this season behind him and we have all seen what a motivated Westbrook is capable of achieving.
