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Getty Lakers stars LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook
The Los Angeles Lakers are aggressively trying to trade Russell Westbrook before the retirement begins. According to a July 25 report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are among the teams that have discussed deals with the Lakers involving Westbrook and draft picks.
However, no agreement seems imminent in those conversations.
The Lakers are struggling to trade Westbrook, who was second in the NBA for turnovers and had the sixth effective field goal percentage last season. The 2016-17 MVP got its $ 47.1 million player option for next season and two NBA contenders would have zero interest in acquiring it.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported on July 22 that the Dallas Mavericks would not trade with Westbrook. Meanwhile, Darren “Doogie” Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News reported on July 25 that the Minnesota Timberwolves were in the same boat as the Mavericks.
“You guys told me you heard it and I checked in,” MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective Podcast. “I got a quick, ‘Hell no.'”
“Let’s start with Brian Windhorst, who took part in this podcast a lot. In his podcast he stated that the Wolves had been mentioned as a potential business partner for Russell Westbrook. I don’t doubt his information, ”Wolfson told The Scoop w / Doogie Podcast. “What I can tell you is that I feel very strong saying that the LA Lakers, Rob Pelinka, have initiated that dialogue. I also feel very, very, very, very, very confident in suggesting that Russell Westbrook is not going to come to the Timberwolves, it’s not a trade you have to predict thinking it will actually happen. Pull it out of your realm of possibility in your wolf-centered brain. Russell Westbrook will not land here.
Westbrook’s value is low
Westbrook’s value across the league is extremely low. The nine-time All-Star played 78 games last season and averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
However, Westbrook had a plus-minus -211 and only shot 29.8% from beyond the arc and 66.7% from the free throw line.
Westbrook was not only in poor form alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the pitch due to his lack of shooting ability, but he was also reportedly aggressive throughout the 2021-22 season during movie sessions when coaches got pointed out his mistakes, according to a July 20 Report by Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
“From things I heard last season, like during movie sessions, he, you know, was rejecting things that were very obvious like, ‘Hey, you missed this defensive rotation.’ He didn’t like being the center of attention in those movie sessions, ”Buha told the Athletic NBA Show.
The Lakers, who missed the playoffs last season, went 31-47 in Westbrook’s 78 appearances.
Aren’t Westbrook and James on good terms?
James and Westbrook neither sat next to each other nor said goodbye during the Lakers’ Summer League game on July 8. James sat on the south baseline and Westbrook positioned himself on the opposite sideline.
Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register reported on July 15 that “several people within the Lakers organization recognized that it was an awkward and tense moment between its two most high-profile superstars.”
On July 14, the social media team of the New Orleans Pelicans returned fire on a Twitter user who teased their profile picture by pointing out that Westbrook and James weren’t together at the Summer League match.
Heavier on Lakers News
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