[Source](https://theathletic.com/4004360/2022/12/15/lakers-russell-westbrook-celtics-clippers/)
> Russell Westbrook, who took so much blame for the Lakers’ early struggles this season that the name on his jersey should have read “Fall Guy,” provided much of the spark for the Lakers’ surge from 20 points down. And when he swatted a Jaylen Brown attempt at the rim after tracking him for the entire length of the floor — en route to finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, two turnovers and a minus-1 rating — a nearby fan could be heard shouting the kind of encouragement that was nowhere to be found not too long ago: “Good job, Russ!”
>According to a source with knowledge of the Lakers’ plans, Westbrook’s play this past month has made it increasingly unlikely that he will be traded before the league’s Feb. 9 deadline. Since becoming a sixth man on Oct. 28, the 34-year-old, who is in the final year of his (massive) contract, has averaged 15.2 points, 7.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 turnovers and 28.2 minutes. For the sake of perspective, only six players (Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Ja Morant, Pascal Siakam, Jrue Holiday and James Harden) have met those 15-7–and-5 marks so far this season. The Lakers have gone 11-12 in that span.
> –
> But in terms of the Westbrook calculus, and the general question of whether he can help them recover from the 2-10 start to becoming a potent playoff team, there’s also a strong sense that the Lakers believe Westbrook’s contributions will only improve from here. First-year coach Darvin Ham deserves all sorts of credit here, as he managed to navigate Westbrook’s initial frustration with the decision to bring him off the bench.
> Westbrook may not be thrilled with the role, but his improved play and intensity speak volumes about his willingness to accept the reality that it’s the right move for this team. This is why Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was known to be reluctant to give up on Westbrook in those days leading into training camp, when they came so close to doing the well-chronicled deal with Indiana that would have sent Westbrook to the Pacers in exchange for big man Myles Turner and sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
>In the wake of the Lakers’ decision to fire former coach Frank Vogel, Ham had made it clear in the interview process that he would be willing to have these kinds of hard conversations with any individual for the sake of the collective. And while these Lakers (11-16; 12th in the West) are still a long way from salvaging this season, the notion of Westbrook being the root of all their problems is no more.
by NokCha_
34 Comments
While he has been playing better recently I’m sure it has more to do with the severe lack of market for him
The rare, “contract month”.
Goatbrook SZN loading
They were refusing to add more than 1 first round pick when no one wanted him. Now they probably don’t want attach that, which means he’ll never get traded. Looks like they’re trying to convince some other team that Pat Bev is the exact player they are missing.
The Lakers are 11-16. They’re 5-5 in their last 10. There’s no small piece they can add using Bev/Nunn’s contract plus a pick that would make them a contender. And there’s no point in trading what will be incredibly valuable 1st round picks to barely make the play-ins.
The Lakers front office is very clearly punting this season while dangling some “future trade” to try and avoid admitting that. They’re going to try and reset this offseason. Lebron and AD will be shut down around game 65. And hope they can attract some talent in free agency.
They’re honestly better off just letting him play out this year. The market won’t be great for him in the off-season. You might even be able to get him back for (relatively) cheap. That is if he’s willing to continue in the sixth man role.
[LeBron when Rob Pelinka shows up to the next Lakers game](https://youtu.be/tadr-dG8EzQ)
“Yeah guys we totally want to keep Westbrook, don’t even bother offering us trades for him, seriously don’t even try he’s a Laker for life.”
Westbrook still sucks ass this season, he’s just playing fewer minutes. 15ppg on 40% from the field, 28% from 3 and 69% from the line is AWFUL. His 8 assists are also massively inflated by AD’s return to MVP-level play and he’s still a turnover machine.
Say what you want, if my team is playing the Lakers, I hope and pray Westbrook is out there in crunch time to throw away the game for them.
Le3-6-1 mafia in shambles
Lmfaooo
I like how the headline could imply Westbrook is playing so well that he can’t be replaced or he’s playing so poorly that no one wants him
This just reads as the lakers posturing. Why would they publicly come out and say they need to move Westbrook?
His efficiency this year is actually worse than it was last year when he was clowned on daily basis lol
The biggest negative they have with this is that they’re losing a 48m spot that they could fill with players. They’ll have cap space, but it’s so much more valuable to get players than cap space *for where they’re at*
there was a time when people tried to explain how valuable his expiring contract was going to be.
If no good trades are available then it doesn’t make sense to force it. Rather keep him than take on bad money.
Has he really been playing better tho
Lakers forgot to add a magic pixie dream team to their letter to Santa, one that will take Westbrook and give Lakers useful players on expiring contracts without much draft compensation going the other way. Hell, the way this reads, there should be draft picks going to Lakers, given how much Westbrook’s value has increased since moving to the bench.
He’s really not playing any better recently. It more just sounds like they can’t dump him for anything of remote value, so it’s not worth giving up a pick to get rid of him. Which, at this point, is understandable.
It does, however, essentially stick a dagger in this season for the Lakers. Which is crazy given that AD is having by far his best season in 5 years.
I never would have thought it would be possible to build this much of a trainwreck of a roster around Lebron, yet here we are. Imagine if the Lakers did not win that bubble title?
You know you can say titles are priceless and all that but lebron is so good he could’ve gone somewhere else and been more competitive while still winning a ring during this time he was with the lakers. He shouldn’t have asked for westbrook but the lakers are so freaking cheap they won’t fix this problem and are gonna potentially hold him for 2 more years cause their so cheap.
It is such a sad way for lebron to go out and I really can’t believe he’s so committed to the lakers. He should not have gone to the lakers as his last spot. Idc that they got a ring it was not worth it. Lebron is so good he could’ve gotten that ring somewhere else and not had to deal with a poverty front office like the lakers. And I think lebron is not as competitive as he once was that he was willing to put himself in this position.
posturing…I mean we are dumb af so maybe not but I am praying its posturing
I’m dead. Lakers are now taking “good losses” as a sign they’re on the right trajectory
Why are we still talking about the Lakers????? They’re irrelevant and the basement dwellers of the west. Enough already ffs
Westbrooks play this past month:
13.2/6.2/7.7 with 3.4 turnovers on 39/22/59 splits
Total bluff to boost Westbrook’s value.
Westbrook has a stretch of 5 crap games.
Sources: lakers are looking to trade westbrook before the deadline
westbrook is like that weird puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit into the others. but when you slam it into its rightful position, everything looks great
Crazy how 1 player could ruin the final years of LeBrons legendary career. I guess now we know how KD felt beginning his career with Westbrook
Sell high.
If Westbrook is going to be a solid 6th-man for them, it really raises the bar for what the Lakers would need to get back to make it worth their while to trade two future unprotected firsts when their future already looks so bleak. Turner/Hield just probably doesn’t cut it, especially since AD has been playing so well at the 5 and in the playoffs they’ll need to play him there anyway. If an All-Star caliber player became available, that’s one thing, but again, they’d need depth as well to really make it worth the risk.
*(whispers)* they should probably sell high
So Pacers finally blocked the Lakers email and phone number
If anything I thought that his play would increase his value. I think that they will still move on from him if a good package comes along lol
Lakers FO:
*Waves hand*
Oh NO, we could NEVER part with this valuable part of our team!
*Uses other hand to sign trade papers*