At the end of the regular season, everyone was convinced that Russell Westbrook would not stay with the Lakers, he who never knew how to adapt to his new team. But today things are much more blurred, and according to a journalist, only an unfavorable exchange could allow him to be evacuated.
While the Warriors and Mavericks have just embarked on what promises to be an exciting series to determine the best team in the Western Conference, the Lakers have to watch it all from home, as they haven’t even managed to qualify for the playoffs. The situation must be frustrating, but it will undoubtedly force the leaders to make significant changes.
Already, there will be a new coach on the bench at the start of the school year, that’s a certainty, since Frank Vogel was not retained after this catastrophic season. Rob Pelinka takes his time to select the successor, since he would actually wait to see how the Doc Rivers and Quin Snyder cases evolve in Philadelphia and Utah. If one of the two is relieved of his duties, he would undoubtedly become the favorite for the position.
The Lakers forced to sacrifice the future to trade Russell Westbrook?
While waiting to resolve this burning issue, the leaders of the Lakers must also look into the case. Russell Westbrook, accused of being responsible for the ills of the team this year, but whose future is still uncertain. According to some specialists, he would still be part of the franchise’s plans, but according to others, he could leave in a very particular exchange. Dan Woike from LA Times recount :
I spoke to many executives during the Draft Combine that’s happening right now in Chicago, and I asked about Russell Westbrook and the Lakers. At the moment, there is no distinct trend on what the franchise intends to do with the point guard. Most executives believe the Lakers will need to get rid of at least one first-round draft pick to successfully send Westbrook anywhere, which is costly considering he only has a year left on his contract.
For others, the Lakers could get away with it if they agree to take back several long contracts from a team that is looking to empty its payroll for next summer. In the end, the only certainty is that the Lakers do not yet know what they will do with him in the future. An exchange of Russell Westbrook is still relevant before the summer.
To exchange Russell Westbrook, the Lakers will obviously have to agree to jeopardize their future. Either by exchanging several first draft rounds, which will prevent the workforce from being rejuvenated and the development of talented players as they wish, or by agreeing to welcome several players with big contracts and not necessarily at the level… We understand better why the leaders want to give him a second chance.
Los Angeles could quickly find itself in an impasse with Russell Westbrook, although no decision will be made until the arrival of a new coach. If Rob Pelinka thinks he should be traded, he will have to break the bank to convince the other franchises.
