The experience Russell Westbrook at the Lakers is turning into a nightmare. Recruited during the summer, notably by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the point guard had asked the Wizards to arrange a trade in his hometown, and this return is for the moment a fiasco. So much so that the former UCLA is regularly whistled by the Staples Center, the target of criticism, far from his best level, and not the best fit next to LeBron and AD.
According to Bleacher Report, he made an impassioned speech to his teammates before the All-Star break in an attempt to get them back on track after the break, emphasizing the need to all go in the same direction, but both last matches have not been a great success.
The Lakers have reportedly tried to trade him in recent weeks, to no avail, given his contract and his performance. However, this may only be a postponement if we are to believe Bleacher Report. Indeed, even if there is a clear desire from the point guard to make it work for the Lakers at the end of the season, there would be a mutual interest in a divorce during the offseason.
There would have been discussions before the deadline for a Westbrook trade – John Wall, but the Rockets would have wanted the 2027 first-round draft pick, which the Californians would have been reluctant to do. However, it may be a little easier this summer for the Lakers to trade him, as they can part ways with their 2029 draft pick in order to sweeten the pill for a team to absorb their huge contract. If they’re really determined to find him another home, one pick might not be enough, and a rival executive told Bleacher Report that for his team to agree to pick up Westbrook, it would take at least two first-round draft picks.
Perhaps simpler therefore, but very very complicated, and the only solution for the Lakers could be a buyout or else to use the stretch provision (spread his contract over several seasons) on his player option of 47 million dollars for 2022 -23, on which it is unthinkable that he makes a cross, even if he wants to leave.
We could have a Westbrook soap opera in the coming weeks.
