Lakers’ Russell Westbrook Fuels Trade Rumors with Latest Move

The Los Angeles Lakers may lose their struggling veteran sooner than expected. Russell Westbrook has triggered a lot of trade rumors lately and it seems like his departure is no longer an awkward expectation.

The Lakers traded a bunch of their players to get Westbrook on their roster. He is one of the better players, but he wasn’t a good fit for Rob Pelinka’s roster. Moreover, Westbrook caused a mess in LA and he is definitely not a fan favorite.

Reports suggest that Westbrook wouldn’t mind being traded at this point. However, he wouldn’t agree to a buyout. That would put an end to his NBA career.

Russell Westbrook would agree to a trade, sparkles another rumor

What’s Westbrook up to now? Lakers head coach Darvin Ham plans to use him and Patrick Beverley in the lineup. It’s a rather tricky situation mostly because Russ and Bev can’t stand one another. Beverley called him ‘trash’, and Westbrook says his new teammate is not a good defender. These two said and did so many things in the last few years.

Ham will find a solution to Westbrook’s situation in case he stays in LA. Westbrook’s latest move is sort of confusing. According to E.B. Solomont of The Wall Street Journal, the Lakers veteran put his LA home up for a sale. Westbrook is selling his Los Angeles mansion for $29.995 million.

Lakers fans wouldn’t be surprised to see Westbrook out of the team. Ric Bucher of Fox Sports reported that the Lakers are still looking for a trade partner and Russ knows it, per Ramona Shelburne from ESPN. Westbrook plans to join a team that will motivate and empower him. He is just trying to go back to his old self. Is that even possible? NBA fans saw too many turnovers last season and NBA teams didn’t even think of getting him unless Pelinka adds a few first-rounders to his offer.

Russell Westbrook is ‘very open’ to a trade, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne

“He hasn’t asked for a trade. I’ve been assured of that. But he’s open to that and somebody who wants him and wants to empower him and wants him to be Russell Westbrook of old.”

(h/t HoopsHype) pic.twitter.com/SdGIZBemhf

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) September 10, 2022

Westbrook has received advice from a lot of former and current players. Some even believe he should embrace a bench role. We can’t see this happening.