[OFFICIAL] Russell Westbrook as a Los Angeles Laker thread

LA, Laker "fans", and Lebron deserves each other. The level of hubris they've shown the past few years has been extremely nauseating, even by their standards.

 

Are you the real Lisa Malosky?

 

If you're asking if I'm hot, then yes.

 

Would the Knicks take Russ in the offseason?

they are desperate for a PG, and desperation breeds stupidity

I’m thinking it could be a way to get rid of Kemba and Fournier’s contract while getting expiring Russ so they could try again in 2023 FA with cap space

might need to trade AD too because his play has been declining and he has a new injury every other week…he’s been a major disappointment since the Bubble

 

Still can't believe Washington was able to dump Westbrooks sorry ass.

 

I think you keep Davis because he's the player that makes the Lakers a contender and you won't get that type of player in return if teams seriously consider his injury history. You keep LeBron because he's the player capable of making them a championship team. You trade Westbrook for role players on bad contracts like that Knicks trade you mentioned. You then fill in the roster with other random players on minimum deals. You fire Vogel, too.

That said, I won't believe that this current Lakers team is dead until it's eliminated from contention. I listen to what LeBron said last night and only half laugh at it because I do think they are a contending level team with a healthy Davis and the steady Westbrook we saw for a few games recently. They'll also have the refs on their side. And I don't fully trust any of the Western Conference teams besides Phoenix anyway.

 

Does Westbrook get more than the minimum when his current contract ends?

Who would pay this guy and why?

 

Yup...why because "Remember, Chris is more with the LeBron [James] group, and the Carmelo [Anthony] group. And James is the Russell group"

 

I really think they're f***ed. On one hand, LeBron + healthy AD combo will always keep a team in contention in a 7 game series. On the other hand, a "healthy AD" is always a crap shoot. The Lakers SHOULD trade LeBron because AD is still relatively young but in order for them to get maximum talent in return they need to trade AD while he's still got some prime years left that can make an incompetent GM swoon.

Trading Russ without giving up extensive future draft capital is almost impossible. Sure there have been reports of both sides working towards an exit but no team out there is going to take Russ with open arms and not expect at least a 1st rounder attached. And that doesn't go into the kind of return they'll get for Russ. Nothing they're going to get back in terms of players will be a significant enough of an upgrade to make the Lakers contenders.

My opinion? Keep Russ (thereby keeping your future 1sts) and let his contract ride out. Trade AD for the best package of young players and picks available and play a game of chicken with LeBron and see who blinks first. If he's pissy that the team isn't made to win-now then trade his ass. If he's content in riding out his contract and moving into free agency then let him.

 

Pls give Wall a glow up to entice LA to relinquish that 2027 pick.

 

Ain't hideous but cringe.

 

Russ needs to do less, not more. Less, like almost nothing. Like don’t play much at all.

That said, I’m loving the Lakers implosion. I don’t know what they were thinking trading solid young role players for washed up vets. It’s baffling.

 

If you look at Westbrook this season, he is literally falling apart right before our eyes.
His FG% every month since Dec went from 47.6 -> 41.6 -> 36.3 -> 29.4

Just how much lower can he go by the end of the season.

 

hes been falling apart for years. nothing new

 

There are worse players out there who get more than the min. I'm willing to bet multiple teams will pay him more than the min.

 

no there isn't. I'll take that bet when it comes time

 

This would be fine if you had a younger LeBron. The makeup of this current LA teams is basically LeBron + AD + Westbrook + random players. An expiring contract is highly coveted and easily tradeable, but Westbrook's expiring is an albatross. Teams would love if they had $48M coming off the books, but to trade for a $48M contract means you have to give up around the same in assets. I don't think many teams can do that and/or want to help the Lakers.

It's a tough situation with Davis. He's the perfect compliment to LeBron but he just can't stay healthy and can't be counted on to stay healthy, especially in an 82 game season + deep playoff runs. I think you have to trade AD for whatever you can get and keep trying to trade Westbrook, and hope LeBron doesn't drop off as he gets closer to 40.