3. The uglier it is the quicker the Lakers will trade Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook actually was not that bad in this game. There were some classic Westbrook moments that were frustarting to watch but overall, his play was not the direct reason why the Lakers lost this game.
That being said, him being on the team still is the reason why the Lakers lost. The blame has never solely been just on Westbrook but on the circumstances that trading for him created. Los Angeles has no depth because of his massive contract and the floor spacing is a joke because they have too many “stars” who cannot shoot thress on the floor.
Charles Barkley said it best during halftime. Both Westbrook and the Lakers would benefit from a trade and the uglier things are early in the season, the quicker Rob Pelinka is going to feel the pressure to move him (probably for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner).
If the Lakers are just a middling team then Pelinka will convince himself to wait until the deadline and then pull the trigger on a trade then. However, if things are really ugly early on then a move could some sooner as Pelinka looks to save the season before it becomes lost.
LeBron James is already burying this Lakers roster
The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Golden State Warriors on opening night and LeBron James did not take long to bury the team's roster.
While it is painful to watch these ugly losses as a fan, the one thing that fans can bank on is the fact that every ugly loss puts the team closer to maximizing its potential this season.