5 Reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers season will end with a title
By Nick Halden
3. Russell Westbrook will improve or leave Los Angeles
Whether or not the Lakers will find a trade for Westbrook before their season tips off in a little over two weeks remains to be seen. What is known heading into the season is the Lakers have better point guard depth with Dennis and Beverley both on the roster than they had all of last season.
The Lakers can win a title with those two players serving as their point guards. Westbrook is either going to have to cut his turnovers and learn to play hustle defense and play off the ball or become familiar with the Lakers bench.
Westbrook was a large part of the reason the season went wrong for the Lakers last season. This year Los Angeles is in a position to either get the best from Russ and watch the point guard remind the league what he is capable of or bench or trade Westbrook if he continues to struggle as he did last season.
Los Angeles might be saddled with his contract but they have clear options that allow them to quickly pivot from Russ if he continues to struggle. Either the Lakers get a version of Westbrook that makes them better or they pivot away from the point guard with a player in Dennis who has already proven he can help this team win a championship.