Lakers’ Russell Westbrook extra more likely to be traded or despatched residence after Patrick Beverley deal, per report

The Kyrie Irving commerce hypothesis might have ceased (for now), however that does not imply the Los Angeles Lakers‘ level guard drama has come to an finish. On Thursday, the Lakers acquired veteran defensive pest Patrick Beverley, resulting in hypothesis concerning the standing of beleaguered nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook shifting ahead.

It is no secret that the Lakers have been trades involving Westbrook for fairly a while, with a number of experiences saying that potential offers have been squashed because of the Lakers’ unwillingness to incorporate one or each of their obtainable future first-round picks. With Irving off the desk, it appeared believable that the group would enter coaching camp with Westbrook as their place to begin guard. New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has already mentioned a new offensive vision for the previous MVP that includes taking pictures extra nook 3-pointers.

Nonetheless, the addition of Beverley reintroduces questions on Westbrook’s future with the Lakers. In reality, with Beverley on the roster, it is extra doubtless that Westbrook will not see the court docket in any respect for the Lakers within the upcoming season, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. Westbrook might both be traded or just despatched away from the group. Extra from The Athletic:

“Beverley’s arrival makes it extra doubtless that Westbrook shall be off the energetic roster by the beginning of coaching camp, both via a commerce or the group sending him residence a la the Rockets with John Wall final season, in keeping with a supply near the state of affairs.”

Traded, positive. However the John Wall Therapy? That is a situation that hasn’t actually been raised as a sensible risk. Beverley is a serviceable place to begin guard and can probably add some grit to a Lakers protection that plummeted from an NBA-best in 2020-21 all the way in which to twenty first final season. Westbrook was one of many worst offensive gamers within the league final season by way of effectivity — his 0.844 factors per possession have been second-to-last for any participant with no less than 1,000 possessions, in keeping with Synergy Sports activities — but when he is prepared to simply accept a brand new position below Ham, he probably gives much more dynamism and offensive firepower than Beverley.

That being mentioned, projections from SportsLine knowledge scientist Stephen Oh say that the Lakers could be considerably higher in 2022-23 with out Westbrook, even with none items coming again in a commerce.

With Westbrook	45.4	66.1%	8.8%	4.8%
With out Westbrook	47.5	76.1%	11.8%	6.3%
Distinction	2.1	2.6%	3.0%	1.5%

“The sims have a protracted historical past of viewing Westbrook as a case of addition by subtraction going again to once we had OKC enhancing by a number of video games with Chris Paul and Houston getting worse after buying and selling for Westbrook,” Oh defined.

The truth that the Lakers could be prepared to pay Westbrook $47 million to sit down at residence speaks to the deteriorated relationship between the 2 events. Clearly, a commerce is the popular choice — offers involving Myles Turner and Buddy Hield of the rebuilding Indiana Pacers come to thoughts — however that may virtually actually require the Lakers to give up no less than one in every of their future picks, particularly since Talen Horton-Tucker, one in every of their solely younger belongings, went to the Utah Jazz within the Beverley commerce.

Thus far the Lakers have not been prepared to compromise their future to get Westbrook off the roster, and now it appears they is perhaps content material with consuming his wage to maintain him away from the group. After all, there’s at all times the likelihood that this report is posturing from the Lakers to make it seem they don’t seem to be as determined to unload Westbrook because it appears. Solely time will inform, nevertheless it’s wanting more and more practical that Westbrook will not swimsuit up for the Lakers to start out the 2021-22 season.