Despite the recent additions of Patrick Beverley and Dennis Schröder, Russell Westbrook is increasingly likely to remain on the Lakers‘ roster, according to Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
However, sources tell The Athletic that Westbrook’s role might change, with the team “strongly” considering having the former league MVP come off the bench in 2022/23. New head coach Darvin Ham has the “full backing” of the organization to determine lineups for the upcoming season, and Westbrook will have to outperform his new teammates during minicamp, training camp and the preseason to remain the Lakers’ starting point guard, Buha and Amick write.
Unless the Lakers can find a trade that they believe makes them a legitimate title contender, Westbrook is “highly likely” to stay on the roster, sources tell The Athletic.
A major part of that line of thinking is the Lakers want to keep their financial and trade options open for ’23/24, when they project to have $30MM+ in cap room for free agency, per Buha and Amick. Westbrook is on an expiring contract worth $47.1MM, and the Lakers have been reluctant to trade their 2027 and/or 2029 first-round picks to offload him.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Los Angeles is banking on Ham being able to optimize Westbrook’s talent — and get through to him in a way that Frank Vogel couldn’t — as well as a return to health for Anthony Davis in order for the ’22/23 season to be successful, sources tell Buha and Amick.
- According to Buha and Amick, the Lakers discussed a four-team trade with the Jazz, Knicks and Hornets prior to Donovan Mitchell being dealt to Cleveland, with an early framework sending Bojan Bogdanovic and Terry Rozier to L.A.
- Los Angeles continues to show interest in Bogdanovic, with The Athletic’s duo reporting that Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley have been included in recent talks with Utah for Westbrook. However, a deal is considered unlikely because of the aforementioned reasons — the Lakers don’t want to part with first-rounders and Clarkson has a $14.3MM player option for ’23/24 that would eat into the team’s potential cap room.
- Along the same lines, Buha and Amick write that dealing Westbrook to the Pacers for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, which has been rumored multiple times, is also “not expected” — Hield has a $19.3MM cap hit in ’23/24.
- Schröder made an Instagram post expressing his excitement about returning to the Lakers, saying that he wanted to “make s–t right!” Schröder’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, tells Mark Medina of NBA.com (Twitter link) that the team informed Schröder that “there will be a lot of minutes for everybody” despite a crowded backcourt.
Lakers are a complete circus
Best circus in the NBA! Jealous?
Lakers are such a joke and their trade demands are so out of touch, however it is the best circus in the league because everyone outside of LA or the rest of that third world state love watching the demise of the old guard, it’s human nature to root against the Yankees Cowboys Lakers and Duke, Lakers are a wonderful circus and we all should be thankful for them
I am still trying to figure out why the Lakers think that Darvin Ham is gonna “bring out the best” in Westbrook.
Westbrook is a 10+ year veteran, with an MVP trophy, who still thinks he can win another MVP trophy (we all know he cannot). He ain’t listening to Darvin Ham, or anybody else who is trying to bring him off the bench, or to play a limited minute role.
Gotta love how the media just makes up these trade rumors. No way in hell would the Pacers trade Turner and Hield for Westbrick. No one wants him. Deal with it.
You absolutely right Buddy Hield and Myles Turner would be terrible for the Indiana Pacers to trade for Russell Westbrook.
Myles Turner is only 26 years old and one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. Then he can stand a short rebuild.
Buddy Hield is already 29 years old and don’t fit because he’s only taking minutes away from Bennedict Mathurin and Chris Duarte. They need time to build. I can see Buddy Hield getting traded and going somewhere he can impact winning. He’s a top 10 shooter in the NBA.
Heild isn’t even close to a top 10 shooter in the nba. Nice try though
Heild’s numbers say otherwise.
Bad contracts get traded all the time. Cap room and draft picks are a thing. No one actually thinks teams want Westbrook for his skill.
I agree with the sentiments of the article, a trade is less likely now
Jazz players don’t appeal as much now with another guard in stow (DS).
Love the idea of Vanderbelt on this current team to help AD carry the D assignments – The protected( 1-6) 27′ pick with Nunn would probably be able to net him along with a 2nd from Utah in the Bronny draft . It’s a steep price for Jeanie, one that would come with some risk, but at some point she must address the defense at the 3/4 for this team to be a threat
I have mentioned a number of times that the Lakers top two targets should have been Jarryd Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley (Scotty Pippen, Jr. has to be in the trade).
I don’t know if the Lakers are willing to pay what it will cost to get Vanderbilt. One of those 1st round picks and Kendrick Nunn won’t likely work because of Nunn’s injury, as well as he is on a lowball ($5 million this year) expiring contract.
Utah LOVES Vanderbilt. They think he could be a piece for AFTER the rebuild. That is the reason why you don’t hear his name really floated like the other guys.
Vandy’s getting paid 4.5 mill only so Nunn (and his expiring would work)- He also doesn’t come with RFA status so although they like him I can see him being dealt still b/c of that; protections would be the tricky part
Don’t think there’s much room for Beasley – 7 strict guards already and that’s w/out counting Chrisite or Pippen
Vanderbilt would make the Lakers interesting. He is the type of versatile, role player who would thrive with LeBron.
Not for much longer. Kessler, Vanderbilt, Azibuke and Johnson do not a Gobert make.
It’s going to be brutal.
Mitchell is the big winner. Got out of there just in time. Whew.
OMG I am so glad this came up. I haven’t heard about Westclank and the Lakers in at least 45 minutes.
“Westbrook’s role might change?” Ya think?! He’s currently the teams 4th string PG. LOL!
RIP Sam Kinison, probably the only guy who can calmly explain (until, as you know, the end) that if Westbrook plays, is productive, and is costing you the GNP of Tupacistan anyway, is somebody worth “giving a shot to”.
Lakers of course have to make it complicated.
Brick + 27 1st to Pacers
Theis and TJ and 29 1st to Jazz
Bojan and Turner to the Lakers?
Idk maybe, trending on unlikely.
Lakers will be crazy to trade their 2027 & 2029 First Round Picks for any role players. You only trade first round picks for stars or guys with star potential. Or that last piece to a championship puzzle. They need to just keep Russell Westbrook and let him come off the bench. Being the 6th man is a good role for him at this stage of his career.
Starters
SF LeBron James
PF Anthony Davis
C Thomas Bryant
SG Patrick Beverley
PG Dennis Schroder
Bench
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Austin Reaves
SG Lonnie Walker IV
SF Juan Toscano-Anderson
C Damian Jones
PG Kendrick Nunn
SF Troy Brown Jr.
PF Wenyen Gabriel
SG Max Christie
Turner Davis Bron Bev Schroder
Bryant Bojan Melo/TCA Reaves Nunn
That’s a better squad. And teams literally trade 1sts for non stars all the time. No one is giving you a Star player for two 1sts. They couldn’t even get Kyrie from the Nets.
You must work for the Lakers. It’s that type of thinking that has literally shut the Lakers out of every single trade scenario I’ve ever heard this Summer, regarding Westbrook.
There’s zero incentive to trade for a guy that you’re going to wave unless there’s draft picks involved. Including a 1st round pick has been standard for decades.
No, the Jazz don’t want their trash fur Vanderbilt. If they included a 1st and salary for Bojan then that’s something. Otherwise, they really need a new negotiator. That or someone needs to explain it to their ownership.
Ham will show that he’s no one’s puppet and will garner a ton of respect if he can bench Russ successfully. Lakers should start Bryant, Davis, Anderson, Beverly and Bron at the point which is his right position for this team to be successful. Russ, Walker, Reaves, Brown and Jones off the bench.
I feel like I have read 47000 times that the expectation is for Westbrook to be on the 2nd unit. Im not sure that I have ever read ONCE, anyone rational that expects westbrook to start the whole year.
Yet every time it is as if it is a new development for him to possible be on the bench. Shocker.
I feel like I have read 47000 times that the plan is for Westbrook to be on the 2nd unit. Im not sure that I have ever read once, anyone rational that expects westbrook to start the whole year.
Yet every time it is as if it is a new development for him to possible be on the bench.
Their new coach is in a really unfortunate position b/c of their ridiculous team building that makes less than zero sense, and it’s even worse for Russell Westbrook, who has already been unfairly blamed, and is now in an even worse situation than he already was last year, with players around him that dont fit. Meanwhile, they’re wasting another year of LeBron James.
Doing the same things as last year, bringing in a bunch of guards they dont need, and at least a couple of them are similar to each other, and dont add anything. Meanwhile, they addressed certain things from last year part way, but now they need spacing/scoring at the 4 off the bench, and still another wing player…but instead they do literally the same things they already did that went wrong, and I’m starting to think they’re doing it to set up Westbrook as the guy to take the fall for it, and it’s sad to see. Its irresponsible to build a roster this badly, in 2022, and pretend like you’re trying to win. If I’m LeBron James and/or Russell Westbrook, now I’m actually super p¡$$£@, and Westbrook arguably might be better off John Walling himself b/c I think it hurts him to play on this roster
I agree with your sentiments Forms but really for the price points they had there was no “Wing” or stretch 4 to be had. Swider could be a pretty nice option for the stretch 4 in due time but the wing defender is really what they need more
In retrospect the TP-Mle going to Walker was kinda strange in lieu of the signings after but they couldn’t work backwards ya know. Woulda loved Bruce Brown more but water under the bridge now…
*Lakers got great scouting, top tier if we are being honest. They think they can unlock something in Lonnie like they did with Monk (tho Imo all Monk ever needed was a chance)
But yea w/out the wing D I can’t put this team as serious contenders- Getting Dennis (best player avail by far) for the min tho was a good move still Imo
I think JTA & Troy Brown Jr. are the designated wing defenders
The Lakers Will Dump Russ Watch We Will Get Rid Of Him!!!
GM Lebron has a post of an assistant coach in the NFL with a F*** them picks tshirt. Tell me again how the Lakers wont give up two first round picks, Nets style.
These ads suck
Westbrook should like to the PF and treat it like Draymond. Defense first, rebound it and push it and pass, I think he’s strong enough and athletic enough to handle it
Move*
“Plenty of minutes for everyone”!!!
LMAO
Lakers most costly decisión roster wise was letting go KCP and Caruso, their top two perimeter defenders from their 2020 championship Team. They put a lot of defensive pressure on the opponents’ best perimeter players, brought their general defensive líne closer to halfcourt than the three point line, and generally hounded the opposing teams perimeter offensive flow, while also running the floor consistently and decently shooting from three.
On ocassion, could slash to the Basket, attacking gaps off the dribble or as off-ball cutters. Best Fit for Lebron.
They should never have let go of Kuzma. He is better than Westbrook at this point. Knew his role and had a lot less ego. Just ignore the fashion week stuff lol
Boo Hoo …. Waaaaaahhhhh waaaaahhh
Waaaaaahhhhhahaaaa Ha ha ha ha hoho
Hahaha haha hihiho huhuhaaa hoho
GM Bron ….. and he got a a raise.
Sad but true. They had a good thing and got greedy. Lost all their depth and a good chunk of their defense. I don’t blame the Knicks for not wanting to give up too much for Donovan. Although, they weren’t a championship team before. Donovan would’ve helped with recruiting, possibly.