Lakers: 3 free agents who can be contingency plans for Russell Westbrook
By Jason Reed
It appears as if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to keep Russell Westbrook around for the start of the 2022-23 season. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Lakers are insisting to “anyone that will listen” that the team would rather keep Westbrook in Los Angeles than trade additional assets to move him.
Of course, things could change if the Lakers could swing a three-team trade for someone like Zach LaVine. In that instance, the Lakers should be more than willing to trade a first-round pick but that is still a big if.
Stein also reported that the Lakers would not outright release Westbrook if he accepts his $47.1 million player option, which he obviously will.
Laker fans need to brace for Westbrook to be on the books next season but he may not play the entire season in LA. The team will have an easier go of flipping him at the deadline in a salary-dump trade with a bad team. Also, there is a world in which the same problems from last season continue and the Lakers simply tell Westbrook to stay home, John Wall-style.
The Los Angeles Lakers need a contingency plan for Russell Westbrook.
Not only do the Lakers need to sign a backup point guard but the team might be interested in signing someone who could take on a bigger workload if Westbrook does stop playing at any point next season.
Not every backup point guard is going to be able to fill the monster hole of minutes that Westbrook would theoretically leave behind so there are only a few options to be a potential contingency plan for Westbrook.