The NBA offseason has already offered a lot of rumors, reports, and trades to all the fans. But many major big names are still on the fence. As to where they will end up at the start of the next season. Among them is Russell Westbrook.

Russell Westbrook showed the desire to opt into the Lakers? opt-in deal worth around $47 million. But as things stand, there is also a scenario where he can opt-out and enter free agency. The Lakers have new leadership in the form of new head coach Darvin Ham. He has publicly backed Russ West and has displayed the desire to keep him on the team.

Ham has spoken about his plans with ‘Brodie’ and how he can manage the team. Having said that, there is no confirmation from Westbrook?s side that he is sure to continue with the Lakers. On the flip side, there is very little chance that he would get a similar amount of money elsewhere that the Lakers have offered him.

Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless discussed the whole dynamic of Russ West staying in the Lakers without any other possible suitors in dedicated pursuit. They also talked about his value. Moreover, they talked about the amount of money the Lakers are willing to spend just to keep him for the next few years to come. Shannon Sharpe mocked the 47.1 million opt-in deal and in turn, ridiculed Russell Westbrook?s value.

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Skip Bayless said, ?Russ opted in a couple of weeks back at the deadline. I said it’s the biggest duh in the history of opt-ins because he’s going to opt out? Well, he can’t! Nobody wants him. ? So he opted in for 47.? To this Shannon replied, ?Yeah, well where else you’re gonna get 47 million? He’d be lucky to get 47 dollars.?

The complication of Russell Westbrook trade affects LeBron James and Kyrie Irving reunion

As it turns out, the fate of the two NBA superstars, Russ and Kyrie, seems to be codependent on each other. Moreover, LeBron James and the Lakers are still uncertain how exactly their team will look starting the 2022-23 season.

According to Shannon Sharpe and many other analysts, a three-team trade is the only possibility to orchestrate the desired result. Only then Kyrie can come to the Lakers. But even in this scenario, Westbrook?s mindset of how he sees himself as a player is very important.

Russ West has the reputation of a great player, but last season has dented that to a certain extent. If he still believes in himself, which he should, by all means, he can challenge his place in the Lakers. But other than that, he might not have many options where he can earn the money he desires and play the type of basketball he wants.

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On the other hand, it is clear that Kyrie would be more than willing to play with LeBron once again and vice versa. There is no possibility to have both Kyrie and Russ on the roster. So Kyrie joining the Lakers only seems possible if Russ leaves.

As of now, the Nets, or any other team for that matter, have not shown the determination of getting Westbrook in their ranks. This means offloading Russ, if that?s what the Lakers really want to do, is going to be tough.

In short, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving can only play together if Russell Westbrook is not on the roster. By the look of things, nobody knows if the Lakers actually truly want to let go of Westbrook. This is what makes this a complicated loop, to which we might find an answer soon.