The Russell Westbrook experiment on the Lakers was a failed one, and an NBA insider has revealed who took the blame for what went down.
“Sources told ESPN that every member of the organization involved in the Russell Westbrook trade — including James – will admit they misjudged it, owning part of the blame,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote.
Players like DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Buddy Hield might have probably joined the staff to assist LeBron and Anthony Davis as an alternative of Russ, however LeBron led the push for Westbrook.
The staff knew the dangers of buying and selling for a ball-dominant guard who must be the staff’s third choice – one thing Westbrook had by no means skilled earlier than.
Russ in purple and gold solely lasted for one and a half seasons earlier than he was traded in a blockbuster three-team deal, the place LA obtained D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The failings of the Russ commerce additionally led to former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel’s firing, in keeping with a latest report by the Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“…Buss was known to believe the former coach was largely to blame for the failed integration of Russell Westbrook and ultimately greenlighted his April 2022 firing as a result…,” Amick wrote.
Fast ahead to the 2023-24 season and the Lakers GM Rob Pelinka finds himself in the same scenario, with an getting old James and Davis and an underwhelming help forged.
Just final season, Pelinka made some in-season strikes that noticed a staff who began the season 2-10 make a playoffs push.
But because the Lakers know all too properly, exploring the commerce market doubtless implies that you’re parting methods with one more future draft choose.
If they traded for a participant like Zach LaVine, wouldn’t it simply be one other Westbrook scenario?
READ MORE: Lakers’ Likely Major Coaching Shakeup Outlined By NBA Insider
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