Kyrie Irving trade speculation may have stopped (for now), but that doesn’t mean los angeles lakersThe point guard drama is over.thursday lakers Acquired Veteran Defensive Plague Patrick Beverleyleading to speculation about the forward status of beleaguered 9-time All-Star Russell Westbrook.
It’s no secret that the Lakers have been considering a trade involving Westbrook for quite some time, with multiple reports suggesting that the Lakers include one or both of the available future first-round picks. With Irving off the table, it seemed plausible that the team would go into training camp with Westbrook as point guard. One Durbin Ham has already discussed: new offensive vision A former MVP case involving shooting more corner 3-pointers.
But the addition of Beverley again brings up questions about Westbrook’s future with the Lakers. Dealing with him is still the preferred option, but if they can’t find one, what happens next? Up to this point, there have been conflicting reports of such a scenario.
Westbrook could easily be kicked out of the team, According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic,.
“Beverley’s addition makes it more likely that Westbrook will be out of the active roster by the start of training camp. This could be a trade or the team that sent him home like the Rockets last season alongside John Wall. by either ” .”
Other sources say the Lakers aren’t inclined to go in that direction and Hamm is “determined” to find a way to use Westbrook. According to Marc Stein.
Also, if a trade involving Westbrook doesn’t materialize and he’s on the roster when the Lakers begin practice on Sept. 27, new Lakers coach Durbin Hamm will play Westbrook’s true role. Sources say the Lakers have so far kept Westbrook completely out until the Rockets find a trade for him, much like last season’s try with John Wall. I have strongly resisted the idea of shelving. Westbrook, who turns 34 in November, appeared in 78 of the Lakers’ 82 games last season.
Beverly is a serviceable starting point guard and could add some grit to the Lakers’ defense, which plummeted from NBA-best in 2020-21 to No. 21 last season. According to Synergy Sports, Westbrook was one of the league’s most aggressive players last season. His 0.844 points per possession put him second last among players with at least 1,000 possessions. Accepting a new role under Hamm, he could offer far more dynamism and offensive firepower than Beverly.
That said, SportsLine data scientist Steven Ohr predicts the Lakers will be significantly better in the 2022-23 season without Westbrook and without any pieces coming back in the trade. right.
|
with Westbrook |
45.4 |
66.1% |
8.8% |
4.8% |
|
no westbrook |
47.5 |
76.1% |
11.8% |
6.3% |
|
difference |
2.1 |
2.6% |
3.0% |
1.5% |
“Sim has a long history of seeing Westbrook as a case of addition and subtraction, going back to when OKC improved in a few games and Chris Paul and Houston got worse after the Westbrook trade,” explained Ohr. did.
The fact that the Lakers may be willing to pay Westbrook $47 million speaks to a souring relationship between the two. Clearly, a trade is the preferred option — a deal involving rebuilding Miles Turner and Buddy Hield. Indiana Pacers Comes to mind — but it would almost certainly require the Lakers to give up at least one of their future picks.
So far, the Lakers weren’t willing to sacrifice their future to keep Westbrook off their roster, but that may change now that they’ve acquired Beverley and LeBron has signed a contract extension. Letting you solve the fit problem without compromising future assets. But actually enforcing such drastic measures is no easy decision, and Hamm doesn’t seem inclined to push that button, at least without effort in training camp.
Whatever happens next month, Westbrook’s situation will be one of the biggest stories in the league heading into training camp.
