The Los Angeles Lakers stole all the headlines last night and not because of their draft picks. Instead, it was for swooping in and trading for Russell Westbrook.
The Lakers gave up plenty of their depth to the Washington Wizards, trading away Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell alongside a couple of picks.
That, combined with the fact that Westbrook is far from a shooter and the Lakers gave away two of the few players that could shoot three-pointers, have some people scratching their heads in disbelief.
Nonetheless, former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins believes that this is just what the Lakers needed to win another championship, and even predicted that they’ll win the ring in 2022:
“Asking me that question is like asking me if I’m going to finish my plate of food. The answer is ‘hell yeah!’
Perkins said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Russell Westbrook has never played with a big like Anthony Davis. Good luck to try to stop that pick and roll with Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.. LeBron James needs Russell Westbrook for the simple fact that he’s getting up in age. Russell Westbrook is still 32, which means that he’s still in his prime… I see the Lakers coming out of the West, and I see them winning the title.”
Some say that the best players will always figure things out and learn how to coexist and this doesn’t have to be the exception to that rule.
LeBron James knows what it’s like to play with other superstars, and Anthony Davis recently learned it as well. Westbrook has played next to a top-tier player for most of his career.
So, even if the fit is questionable, maybe Perkins is right. Maybe pairing 3 of the best players in the league will be enough to win a ring, regardless of the fit.
