Ramona Shelburne Believes Lakers’ Russell Westbrook Will Refuse Buyout

Russell Westbrook is in a position he’s never been before and fans started talking about a potential buyout. The Los Angeles Lakers started looking for trade options when it was more than obvious that Russ is not the best player to fill the third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. His struggle was real and Westbrook lost the support he was receiving from Lakers fans.

The Lakers have been linked to several major targets, but they didn’t make any major moves. The team finished the 2021-22 NBA season a little too early and Rob Pelinka has plenty of time to figure things out.

Russell Westbrook wouldn’t destroy his career with a buyout

Westbrook wouldn’t request a trade at this point and he wouldn’t agree to a buyout either. The one-time NBA MVP wouldn’t harm his reputation. Yes, analysts advise Westbrook to embrace a bench role with the Lakers, but he knows what he’d doing.

“Russell Westbrook is not a buyout guy,” Shelburne said during a recent podcast appearance. “You have to agree to a buyout, and that’s not how he is wired. This is a guy who is very proud, and if you accept a buyout once in your career, you’re seen differently throughout the rest of your career.

Russ is Russ because of his swagger and the way he bleeds with it, the way he plays with it. You can’t retreat from that. You can’t let go of that because that’s what made Russ, Russ — it’s his swagger. If he accepts that, then he’s no longer Russell Westbrook.”

Westbrook is one of the better players in the NBA. His struggles with the Lakers didn’t affect his great career, but he should be really careful at this point. The tiniest mistake could put a spell in his future and Westbrook may be forced to retire sooner than expected. Lakers head coach Darvin Ham looks like someone who can find a good role for Westbrook even if it means using him alongside Beverley in the lineup. It may be a tricky situation, but Russ should try it all.