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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons to officially bench Russell Westbrook

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

While it might not directly be his fault, most of the issues on the Los Angeles Lakers this season stem from Russell Westbrook. In trading for Westbrook, the Lakers acquired a former MVP who does was not a great Xs and Os fit and also is getting paid $44.2 million — significantly limiting who the team could have brought in for help.

The Lakers are cratering. At the time of writing this, the team is 27-33 and is the ninth seed in the Western Conference. They are 6-14 in their last 20. It is bad.

Something needs to change and perhaps the change that the team needs, even with Anthony Davis out, is to sit Russell Westbrook on the bench and not give him any minutes… at all. 

Here are 3 great reasons to justify the Los Angeles Lakers benching Russell Westbrook:

1. The team has point guard depth

Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Lakers actually have the depth to make up the minutes that Russell Westbrook would leave behind. Granted, the depth isn’t that great, but Westbrook himself is not great either so what is the team really losing?

The Lakers just recently signed DJ Augustin, who adds another point guard presence to the roster (even if he is not that good). The trio of him, Talen Horton-Tucker and Avery Bradley can handle de facto point guard duties.

Having LeBron James helps the situation. LeBron essentially operates as a point guard and with him, the team can afford to run out a not-so-ball-dominant point guard like Bradley. When LeBron sits, you bring in THT to facilitate.

The Lakers still have Malik Monk to play the two and this would actually open up Wayne Ellington to get more minutes as well, which should already be happening. The team certainly has the depth to replace Westbrook’s minutes.

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