When Patrick Beverley was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers recently, many people started to believe that spelled the end of Russell Westbrook in LA.
Inside reporting said that the front office views Beverley as a replacement of sorts for Westbrook and now the team can ship him away with ease.
But apparently, a deal for Westbrook is hard to find because he remains on the team and now there is talk that they are planning to have the two play together in the upcoming season.
Head coach Darvin Ham even said as much, saying that he could actually start with both Beverley and Westbrook.
This is a bit of a shock.
And, to some, it feels really fake.
.@WindhorstESPN is not sold on the Russ and Pat Bev tandem in LA.
"This duo doesn't make any sense on a basketball level." pic.twitter.com/EaXprgnECR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 7, 2022
Brian Windhorst was on ESPN talking about Beverley and Westbrook getting chummy and working together and he isn’t buying any of it.
“I just don’t believe the Lakers think this is going to work,” Windhorst said.
He went on to state that he thinks the team is trying to save face and play nice because they don’t currently have any promising offers for Westbrook so they are forced to have these two on the same squad.
But Windhorst points out how Westbrook is one of the worst three-point shooters in the league and Beverley, typically good from downtown, just came off his weakest season from beyond the arc.
Windhorst might have a point.
Best Buddies
There are more than a few people who feel that the buddy-buddy nature of Beverley and Westbrook won’t last.
It’s great that they have put the past behind them but there is no doubt the Lakers are still very interested in getting rid of Westbrook as soon as possible.
The idea of these two together on the same team doesn’t make a lot of sense and is definitely not what LA needs right now.
This newfound friendship certainly won’t last long if the Lakers have their way.
NEXT: Patrick Beverley And Russell Westbrook Are Doing Everything Right So Far