If you’re a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, you might want to prepare yourself for a season filled with Russell Westbrook whether you like it or not.
Adrian Wojnarowski stopped by ESPN to dump cold water on any LA follower who is expecting Westbrook to leave the team after a dismal start for the season.
"I think a Russell Westbrook move to the bench is probably inevitable… Utah, Indiana, who the Lakers talked with a lot in the offseason, I'm told they've not heard from the Lakers yet this season."
— @wojespn pic.twitter.com/UzLoEwgpIs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 26, 2022
Woj said that Westbrook will likely sit out during Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets as he heals from a hamstring injury.
He did confirm the speculation that Westbrook will probably be moving to the bench soon unless his performance improves.
Woj then said that other teams in the league probably won’t even consider a trade until 20-30 games down the road.
Meanwhile, teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers – who spoke with the Lakers a lot about Westbrook during the summer – haven’t even heard from LA recently.
This all suggests the Lakers are still tied to Westbrook, at least for the foreseeable future.
Why Move Westbrook?
Even the most adamant Westbrook fan will admit that 2022-23 hasn’t started well.
Therefore, nearly everyone agrees that a move for him might be the right move.
But other teams aren’t going to be eager to take on his contract until the season develops even more.
The Lakers need other squads and front offices to get desperate because of losses and be willing to agree to Westbrook’s contract.
Until then, the Lakers will have to make the best of a bad situation.
What comes next for Westbrook and the team?
Will he improve his game and enhance his shooting abilities or will he continue to squander good looks and only hurt the team?
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