Russell Westbrook Drops Final Decision On His Lakers Future

The Los Angeles Lakers have a few struggling players on their roster. Russell Westbrook is one of them and his future with the Lakers is hanging in the air. Yes, the Lakers tried to trade him this offseason, but negotiations got stuck in the middle of nowhere. Westbrook is still a Laker and his situation hasn’t changed a bit.

There’s an update on his role with the Lakers though. According to Stephen A. Smith from ESPN, the one-time NBA MVP wants out of the team.

“But he (Westbrook) knows they (the Lakers) want him gone,” Smith said. “From what I’m hearing, he practically wants to be gone, but they can’t just let him go for nothing.”

"From what I'm hearing, he practically wants to be gone."

Stephen A. Smith on Russell Westbrook's future with the Lakers#NBATwitter #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/kVcE8dnOiu

— ??????’ ??? (@_Talkin_NBA) October 26, 2022

Russell Westbrook was never concerned about his Lakers future

Westbrook knew that the Lakers are trying to trade him. He was just trying to do his job and help the team win. His performance wasn’t of great help though and Westbrook struggles a lot. Everything points to the fact that he is not happy in LA. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have nothing but respect for him and they both support their teammate. Will this affect Westbrook’s future in the franchise?

Westbrook’s stats are average. He throws 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while going 28.9% from the field and 8.3% from beyond the arc. His team is losing games now and Rob Pelinka has to make a change.

Ramona Shelburne from ESPN reported that Westbrook would gladly join a team that respects his skills. He was “very open” to a trade, but didn’t make a move to force his way out.

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

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer discussed Westbrook’s shooting struggles.

“To put Westbrook’s 41.2 percent contest rate in perspective, only two other players on record have had less than 50 percent of their jumpers contested: Joakim Noah, at 48.7 percent in 2013-14 with the Bulls, and Andre Roberson, at 48.8 percent during the 2016-17 season with the Thunder,” O’Connor wrote. “This season, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon’s 60 percent contest rate is the league’s second-lowest behind Westbrook’s.”