Hiram Moreno
The 2021/22 NBA season is over for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the problems seem to continue, especially those involving Russell Westbrook, who continues to give the team’s management headaches.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been looking for candidates who are willing to take on the arrival of Russell Westbrook and the $47 million remaining in his salary if he exercises the option to extend the contract for another year. However, the negotiations have not come to fruition precisely because of the Lakers themselves.
It was announced that the Los Angeles team is being asked for at least one first-round pick in a possible exchange for the player. This is something they have not been willing to give up until now, and all signs point to their continuing to pay the expensive cost of the NBA star’s deal, which has disappointed this season after averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists.
It’s unclear which teams have expressed interest in acquiring Russell Westbrook, but all signs point to an impasse unless the Lakers give up their negotiating leverage. In fact, a trade for Westbrook to the Houston Rockets fell through in January precisely because the team was unwilling to include a first-round pick, a position they appear to hold on to so far.
Russell Westbrook may still have a future in the Los Angeles Lakers
Despite the fact that his performances were not the best and that many fans even booed him, Russell Westbrook may have a new opportunity to show his talents in the company of Anthony Davis and Lebron James.
Some members of the Lakers front office believe that Russell Westbrook could do better next season if he returns to the team, as he will now have a new head coach following the departure of Frank Vogel.
It’s no secret that Vogel and Westbrook didn’t get along, and the same happened between the superstar and James and Davis, with Westbrook even claiming that it was “impossible” for him to perform like he normally does when surrounded by players of that caliber. In fact, one of the reasons for Vogel’s firing was precisely the Russell Westbrook issue, since management believed that he did not do a good enough job to integrate the player into the team.
They could give Westbrook the benefit of the doubt, but it comes with a price, and a pretty hefty one.
