LeBron James has had a lot of All-Star teammates over the years. Whether it be Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and even Anthony Davis, James has been blessed with the chance to play with some of the best players to take to an NBA court. And now, he has added to his list with former MVP Russell Westbrook.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook this offseason in order to pair James and Anthony Davis with a third superstar that can compete for the NBA championship. This trio has boosted the Lakers’ chances at an NBA championship, effectively making them one of the favorites.
But could Westbrook eventually be on the trading block? Some fans believe that may be a good idea, given Russ’ poor start to the preseason. But the Lakers know that trading Westbrook is not an option. But James has traded Westbrook in the past, in order to get his hands on Ben Simmons.
During the 2019 NBA All-Star Draft, LeBron James was an All-Star captain alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. During the draft, James selected Russ, and Giannis selected Ben Simmons to pair with fellow 76ers teammate Joel Embiid.
As a joke referencing the contentious history between Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook, LeBron James suggested that Giannis take Westbrook in exchange for Simmons. Giannis jokingly accepted, and the trade was made official. But could we see that trade in real life?
As of now, it is unlikely that Westbrook will be traded to Philly for Simmons. But it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. After all, Simmons’ agent is Rich Paul, who also represents Anthony Davis and LeBron James. So it could be possible but is highly unlikely as things stand.
James and Westbrook’s pairing raises some questions, as some fans believe that Westbrook is a little too ball-dominant to play with LeBron James. On top of that, there are those who argue that the Lakers should have opted for a better three-point shooter, given how poor their perimeter shooting was last season.
The Lakers didn’t have a lot of options for their third star. They didn’t have the cap space to sign a superstar from free agency. Furthermore, this year’s free-agent draft class was weak, with Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul the only major names, and they opted to re-sign with their current teams.
