The Lakers are starting to regret the decision to acquire Russell Westbrook this past offseason. Recently head coach Frank Vogel benched the former NBA MVP in overtime against the Knicks as he was struggling on both ends of the floor and scored just 5 points.
It was the second time this season when Westbrook was taken out of a game during crunch time. The member of the Lakers Big 3 has not been his usual self in a number of games since joining the team.
With trade deadline set to expire later this week, speculations are coming out about Russ’ future. Previously it was thought that the only trade that could work for the Lakers was sending Westbrook to Houston in exchange for John Wall.
An anonymous NBA executive thinks that there is credence to the talks that the Lakers may want to move Westbrook. In fact, he says that it is obvious, though finding a suitable deal is almost impossible.
Via Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com:
“It’s obvious they’re trying to move Westbrook, which is damn-near impossible,” a league exec told Heavy.com. “They know that roster’s just not working.”
This season Westbrook is averaging 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 34.7 minutes per game. The 33-year-old point guard is on a five-year contract that he signed back in 2018 while playing for the Thunder.
He is set to earn $44 million this season. Westbrook is expected to exercise player option next year which would earn him $47 million.
