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Los Angeles Lakers: Laker fans debate the Russell Westbrook trade

By Ronald Agers

Apr 30, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) drives to the basket in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) drives to the basket in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Russell Westbrook
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Despite the stats, Russell Westbrook brings a ton of questions for Lakers Nation!

For the record, Russell Westbrook could bomb and still be an upgrade over Dennis Schroder who turned down a $84 million extension and then proved the Lakers dodged a bullet in the process. No one questions the talent of Russell Westbrook. This is the most athletic point guard in NBA history that does not take nights off when it comes to effort. After that the debates on how Westbrook will fit in being the third option starts.

Ricky Welch:

  • Russ is a great talent, a former MVP and a first ballot Hall of Fame player. 
  • He is still in his physical prime at 32, and just had one of his best seasons IMO. 
  • He has never been a shooter, that hasn’t stopped him at all from being  a 1 or 2. 
  • His salary isn’t an issue to me, we would be matching it with players that we don’t want anyway. His player option makes him even more attractive IMO. He has the ability to give us more flexibility if needed after 1 year.
  • If nothing else the entire deal is off the books in 2 years.
  • LeBron and AD would be the best duo he has ever played with. James takes away the pressure of running the team in crunch time, and a Davis/ Russ pick and role will be lethal.

McKinley Webb:  

I agree he is dynamic, but the these issues makes me look elsewhere

  •  Temperament
  •  Inefficient Shooting (LA needs shooting)
  •  Unwilling to work on improvement at age 32
  •  Contract (Better options for less $)
  •  Trading multiple players for one, LA will have to add more vet min players which weakens depth.

Look, if he could come in and ACCEPT the role of being the facilitator and work on the things he excels at, running the break, driving to the basket and rebounding, I would think about it, but I just don’t think he has shown that anywhere he has been…In his mind, he is still “The Man”…on this team, he would not be “The Man”.

We don’t have to go very far back in the past to bring up a major issue when it comes to playoff execution and poise. Does anyone remember his performance in the second round series when the Lakers beat Houston? Read on to listen to Ricky and McKinley sides of the debate.

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