Westbrook Lakers
It’s the off-season, and you might be wondering where Russell Westbrook fits in with the Lakers. This article will address His relationship with LeBron James, His value on the court, and His contract. Read on to learn about Westbrook’s future with the Lakers. The Lakers will probably be happy to have him. Let’s take a look at some of the latest happenings around the NBA. Here are some of the top rumors in the Westbrook saga.
Westbrook’s future with the Lakers
Russell Westbrook’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers is in limbo. His agent, Dan Foucher, has urged him to pursue trade talks. The NBA is a team-oriented league, and players should be defensive-minded. Westbrook is an exception, though, and his recent firing from the New York Knicks team may change that. However, the Lakers’ front office seems to be reluctant to attach future assets to get rid of a player on a contract.
The Lakers have been trying to trade Westbrook for several months, and any team that would acquire him would probably waive him shortly thereafter. Westbrook is not a bad player, as he’s currently perceived to be, but he didn’t have a stellar season with the Lakers last year. While his future with the Lakers isn’t completely bleak, it’s worth watching to see if the Lakers can improve on some of his recent performance.
There’s a chance that Westbrook and LeBron James could stick together for the 2022-23 season. But if Irving doesn’t sign a new contract, Westbrook could be in the purple and gold by opening day. That would be a massive risk, but it’s one worth taking. While most NBA teams don’t want Westbrook in their lineup, Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets are reportedly still interested in trading Westbrook, in order to open up cap space. The rumors that Westbrook and Irving are being linked to each other are still speculative.
While Westbrook’s contract has a player option, his contract is expected to be worth more than $47 million. That’s a lot of money to trade, so he’ll likely stay with the Lakers for as long as he remains a Lakers player. Westbrook’s contract, as well as his future with the Lakers, are the main concerns. If Westbrook decides to stay with the Lakers, he could be an ideal fit for the new system.
His relationship with LeBron James
The LeBron James and Russell Westbrook Lakers are a different story. While they shared chemistry and won two championships in four seasons, their relationship has changed. LeBron has made it clear that he wants to see the entire team succeed. Westbrook has been inconsistent this season but has remained a reliable player. LeBron has been adamant that the Lakers make roster upgrades that will improve their team.
Although the two have not made public comments about their relationship, the Lakers’ organization has acknowledged the awkwardness between the superstars. The Lakers have been linked to both Irving and Kyrie Irving and James has been vocal about his desire to sign Kyrie Irving. While Westbrook is not known to be a boyfriend of James, he is the son of Lakers forward Kyrie Irving. The Lakers are not committing to trading Westbrook despite his relationship with Kyrie Irving.
While both players are close, it’s unclear how their relationship will pan out in the long run. Westbrook and LeBron were unable to acknowledge one another during the Lakers’ opening week game at the Thomas & Mack Center. But the two did speak over the phone, expressing their commitment to each other. They promised to make their relationship work. This was an attempt by the Lakers to smooth over tension. The relationship is still far from perfect, but it’s far better than it’s been.
While LeBron James and Westbrook’s relationship will probably be rocky for a while, both players have stated their commitment to the team. They’ll both likely stay in Los Angeles for a few more seasons. However, Westbrook’s contract is up in the air, so the Lakers must get ready to deal with this. It’s not necessary to be best friends or even cordial with Westbrook, but they should be prepared to work it out.
His value on the court
The Lakers have long worked under the assumption that Westbrook would take up his player option in the offseason. The problem is that Westbrook’s play has been inconsistent over the last few years. In particular, he has not been very effective at playing defense. That may be a problem, but Westbrook has a large contract that he will still be able to use. The Lakers would be wise to wait until after the season to make their decision.
While Westbrook is still a top player, his value as a playmaker has fallen. His average of 18.5 points per game last season pales in comparison to that of the Lakers’ mediocrity. The Lakers’ salary flexibility is already low and Westbrook’s market value is minimal. They could’ve added a perimeter shooter such as Buddy Hield. If they’d traded Westbrook for another player, they would be able to cap his salary at $47.1 million and make the pick worthless.
In the end, the Lakers should have seen this coming. After all, they traded Westbrook for James so they could create a Big Three. Unfortunately, the Lakers don’t have that. Westbrook is a terrible shooter and a poor defender. Even worse, he lacks interest on defense and has little value in trade circles. If the playoffs start today, the Lakers would still have a chance to make some noise.
The Lakers would’ve been better off with Hield and Caruso. Westbrook’s mental instability is a big issue, but it’s not the fault of the Lakers. Instead of focusing on Westbrook’s own performance, Westbrook has to put himself out there and show he’s willing to engage and score. His mental game needs to improve to prove himself to teams before the 2023 trade deadline.
His contract
Russell Westbrook has decided to opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 33-year-old has had the worst season of his career with the Lakers. The Lakers were the preseason favorites to win the Western Conference, but failed to reach the play-off round. Westbrook averaged 20 points per game and shot under 30 percent from three. Westbrook never fully committed to improving his defense, offball movement, or shot selection.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made it clear they aren’t willing to part with Russell Westbrook for a high price. Westbrook will make $47.1 million in the 2018-19 season and will have the option of signing a new deal for the 2022-23 season for another $47.1 million. The Lakers will likely be looking to trade him, so they must pay up to 80% of his salary. That means any trade offer will include several players with inflated contracts. The Lakers have not attached draft picks to sweeten trade offers with Westbrook.
The Westbrook decision to opt out of his contract is a surprising one. The Lakers had assumed he would pick up his player option for the 2022-23 season. The team didn’t plan on Westbrook opting out of his contract, but the Lakers’ fans and media were upset. The Lakers are likely to pursue trade options in order to keep the core of LeBron James, Westbrook, and Anthony Davis together.
While the Lakers may be a good fit for the Lakers, Westbrook has a questionable future. The Lakers signed him to a four-year deal, but he hasn’t done enough to prove himself. He averaged 18.5 points last season, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Only four players had higher averages. A contract extension for Westbrook would be a great way to lock in his future.
His future with the Thunder
Russell Westbrook has made the decision to opt into the final year of his contract. The player option is worth $47 million. The decision is likely to be official by the end of June. Westbrook has indicated that he wants to stay with the Lakers, but the Lakers have a limited cap space and can’t afford to lose a top-flight talent. In that case, the Lakers may be wise to consider trading for another player.
Russell Westbrook’s future with the Lakers is uncertain, but there’s no reason to panic. It’s important to keep in mind that he has spent fourteen years with the team and is unlikely to leave anytime soon. His agent likely knows about the other offers he’s received, but he believes that staying with the Lakers is the best option for him. The Lakers front office isn’t inclined to tie future assets to trades for the star.
While Westbrook has received some criticism for his play in Los Angeles, he has also had his fair share of critics. The moniker “Westbrick” was thrown around all season and his role was scrutinized all the time. Even Magic Johnson said that Westbrook’s trade with the Lakers could be the worst in the history of the franchise. In the end, however, Westbrook’s future with the Westbrook Lakers remains uncertain.
If Westbrook stays, it would be best for the Lakers to add another young player to their rotation. The Thunder roster isn’t exactly stellar and would have to find a way to replace Westbrook. In order to do that, they would have to rely on him to fill some roles. With an improved rotation, the Lakers will have plenty of time to focus on developing Horton-Tucker.