It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers are starting to find their feet again. After the initial negative media attention towards Russell Westbrook, things have started to fair better for the nine-time All-Star. He has been performing well and the NBA world has seen a refreshed and renewed Westbrook recently. But the latest reports claim otherwise.
There have been several rumors circling the league that suggests the Lakers are looking for an opportunity to trade him. One of the recent developments has pinned Russell Westbrook signing on to the Miami Heat.
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NBA fans are in utter disbelief at the looming rumors. One user wrote, “The Lakers wanna get rid of their second-best player“.
Here are some more reactions from NBA Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FrankBurner2/status/1595168781357436929?s=20&t=9m_wRRVFNgtxRMeurz3XRw
Why is Russ being bought out still a thing when the team has been doing better without LeBron? Oh because LeBron can’t come in and adjust so he has to get rid of Russ
— Tee (@TheCoach_TeeJay) November 22, 2022
why would he get bought out tho
— Chaz (@ChazNBA) November 22, 2022
gonna take a lot more than just westbrook to save that team
— ☄️✨𝖜𝖎𝖟𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘✨☄️ (@wizardseries) November 22, 2022
Doesnt make sense for the lakers to buy him out. He’s helping them win
— Dan. (@DanMayn88026365) November 23, 2022
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report revealed that there was a potential three-way deal between the Lakers, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Detroit Pistons. According to him, if there was an opportunity for a trade Westbrook would be the dangling carrot.
NBA Insider Chris Mannix had said that Russell Westbrook’s contract could be used to their advantage. He said, “They are not acquiring Russell Westbrook the player. They are acquiring the multiple drafts picks that will come with him“. Mannix didn’t sugarcoat his words either when he said if Westbrook could not play for the Lakers, he wasn’t going to play anywhere else.
Why target Russell Westbrook?
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The days of ‘Westbrick’ seems to have passed. Russell Westbrook has been contributing to his team and has been praised by his teammates as well. With the 11 games he has played off the bench, he has averaged 16.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. His efficiency with the ball has significantly increased.
But many questions hang in the air. So in light of his renewed form, why single out Westbrook? What do the Los Angeles Lakers hope to achieve by trading Westbrook of all people? Will Westbrook and the Miami Heat complement each other? NBA fans will just have to wait and see if the answers present themselves in the future.
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Watch This Story: Will Lakers Trade Russell Westbrook Before NBA Trade Deadline?
What are your thoughts on the latest development surrounding Russell Westbrook? Do you think he will remain with the Lakers? Let us know in the comments below.