Lakers’ Russell Westbrook Gets Destroyed by NBA Scouts & Executives

Russell Westbrook went nuclear on the Los Angeles Lakers, but he was destroyed by NBA executives and scouts. Westbrook claims that the Lakers didn’t give him a real chance. In his exit interview, the nine-time All-Star said Frank Vogel is the only head coach he had problems with. What about David Fizdale? We have a few good reasons to believe that the list doesn’t end here.

Westbrook is probably on his way out of Los Angeles. He knows it really well. His 2021-22 season was really bad. Yes, he may have a hard time finding a home in the NBA.

Russell Westbrook was destroyed by executives for his attitude

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported that NBA scouts and execs don’t see Westbrook in the NBA player anymore.

“To other teams, Westbrook represented a one-year problem on the books as a way to erase long-term commitments to other players,” Woike reported. “Some scouts and executives around the league don’t view Westbrook as a useful player at this stage, especially with a nearly $50 million price tag.”

Westbrook was averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game with the Lakers. His stats were great, but he couldn’t help his team win more games. Rob Pelinka shouldn’t have traded for him.

According to Woike, Westbrook’s deal “acts as sort of an amnesty option for any organizations facing some regretful decisions over the next two or three seasons,” per Woike.

How will the Lakers handle this situation?

“The Lakers could simply cut bait and release Westbrook, either using the stretch provision to move his salary cap hit over a handful of seasons or just bite the bullet and deal with it all at once (a far less likely scenario),” Woike wrote.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis pushed the Westbrook trade, but the experiment didn’t work. Moreover, the four-time NBA champion showed signs of disapproval throughout the entire season.

“Midway through the season, players began to notice James’ body language after poor Westbrook play, an on-court sign of recognition that his and the Lakers’ plan wasn’t going to work,” Woike and Turner reported. “… James’ shoulders would slump and how his head would hang after botched opportunities to score or defend.”