The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have reached a new bottom after a statement released by the longtime agent of former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook released a statement with revealing details.
In a statement given to ESPN, Thad Foucher of Wasserman revealed the two have severed ties over ‘irreconcilable difference.’ Foucher believes Westbrook should stay with the Lakers and make the most of his situation, given the challenging nature of working a trade for the fourth consecutive offseason.
“I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history. I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell’s behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
“Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell – and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.
“Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout.
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“My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.
“Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best.”
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With the statement, the whole NBA knows that Westbrook wants to leave the Lakers. Also, the man who has helped accomplish the near impossible in three consecutive offseason periods doesn’t see a reasonable solution using a trade. This has to be music to the ears of rebuilding teams with cap space waiting to add future draft capital from the Lakers to take on Westbrook’s contract.
