The Westbrook issue is getting colder by the minute. After intense weeks (months) in which the Lakers have been really active looking for the formula to release the veteran base, now a certain calm air has come to the franchise, which has understood that it is most likely that Russ start the 2022-23 season with them.
According to journalist Marc Stein, Angelenos are not uncomfortable with it. Starting with Darvin Ham (new head coach), they understand that making him play and taking advantage of his virtues is the right path. Thus, he would be out of the question doing something Houston-style with John Wall, who directly opted to send him home.
With such a scenario, the plan of those in gold and purple is to foster a chemistry in the team that helps to forget the 33-49 of last year from the first hour. Along these lines, Stein announces that if LeBron James organizes a mini-training camp soon, Westbrook will be present. As we say, and although they are still looking for a trade, it is about shaping the group and involving Russell before they all meet on September 26 to start the preseason under Darvin Ham.
Of course there are doubts. The Lakers seem to have made a classic their own: ‘less than evil’. They want to do without Westbrook, but if keeping him seems bad to them, it is even less so to take advantage of him on the parquet. How will he turn out? It remains to be seen. If they start winning games there won’t be a problem, but if it isn’t like that… maybe what are now words of affection will take another meaning. Also, we don’t know what role Ham has in mind for Westbrook and if Westbrook will be okay with it. There are many unknowns to solve. The only sure thing is that Russ He is still a Lakers player.
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