Lakers Trade for Former MVP Gains Momentum After Interview

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a replacement for Jason Kidd. They interviewed head coach Scott Brooks for an assistant position. This was more than enough for people to start talking that the Lakers will trade for former MVP Russell Westbrook.

Brooks is parting ways with the Washington Wizards after five long seasons. The franchise made the playoffs thanks to the great late season run. However, they finished 34-38 and it was the team’s third straight season under .500.

Marc Stein has more details of Brook’s interview.

The Lakers have interviewed former Wizards coach Scott Brooks for a potential spot on Frank Vogel's staff, league sources say.@espn reported last week that former Knicks and Grizzlies coach David Fizdale would soon join the Lakers after Jason Kidd's departure to coach Dallas.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2021

Is Westbrook next on the list?

The Lakers to trade for the former MVP

Imagine him wearing a Lakers uniform.

Brooks and Westbrook share an incredible relationship. They reunited in Washington last season after spending time in Oklahoma City. The veteran point guard has nothing but words of praise for Brooks.

Lakers Getting Scott Brooks For Coaching Staff = Adding Russell Westbrook

— ???? ???? (@Gavriel_Israel) July 3, 2021

“Players get a lot of credit because we’re on the floor. But behind the scenes, Scotty is one hell of a coach. Not just that, a person, and he does an amazing job making sure we’ve got all our stuff together,” Westbrook said, per NBC Sports.

“If it wasn’t for him and his ability to be able to make decisions on the fly, make the right calls and put the right guys in and out of the game and put us in the right place to be successful, a lot of this stuff wouldn’t be happening. All of the outside noise, it really doesn’t matter, honestly, because we know how important he is, and I know how important he is to myself and to the team.”

Brooks respects Westbrook

The head coach really likes Westbrook and everything he brings to the basketball court. Brooks respects Westbrook’s play and the way he treats teammates. According to him, Westbrook treats great people around him and acts as a real professional both on and off the court. Brooks got to see him act and yes, he liked every bit of it.

“I have a lot of respect for how he plays, how he treats his teammates, how he treats the staff, how he treats everybody. He’s the gold standard for how you act as a professional; on the court and off the court. I get to see it firsthand how he treats the flight attendants, how he treats our chef, how he treats everybody in the building. That’s, to me, the sign of a true champion,” Brooks said.

Should the Lakers form a Big 3 with Russell Westbrook ? @russwest44 pic.twitter.com/ETtXIQwl1J

— Sports Are Essential (@sportsare_essen) July 1, 2021

Will LA trade for Westbrook? They could really use his triple-double skills. LeBron James and Anthony Davis could use another superstar on the basketball court.

The 32-year-old was the highest-paid player in the league last season. He has a five-year deal worth $206 million and makes $41.35 million per season.