Russell Westbrook’s situation with the Los Angeles Lakers is seemingly not close to getting resolved, even though the new NBA season will begin soon. Both sides seem to know that parting ways would be the best thing in their respective interests.
The Lakers could trade Russ for a bunch of solid role players that will improve the team’s depth. But it’s easier said than done. Over the last few weeks, the Lakers have done everything in their power to trade Russ.
With no trades coming to reality, the notion around Westbrook has changed. Most now believe that Brodie will start the 2022-23 NBA season as a member of the Lakers and will do his best to prove that he’s still one of the best players in the league.
Despite that, a recent report suggested that Russ is apparently very open to leaving the Lakers. While he hasn’t requested a trade yet, the report claimed that if provided an option, he would happily leave the team.
Russell Westbrook Is Not A Buyout Guy
Let’s assume for a second that Russ indeed gets traded. Even if that happens, there’s a huge chance that the team he plays for next will simply try to negotiate a buyout.
But NBA insider Ramone Shelburne firmly believes that Russ is not a buyout guy, and if he agrees to that, he will lose all his swagger.
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“Russell Westbrook is not a buyout guy. You have to agree to a buyout, and that’s not how he is wired. This is a guy who is very proud, and if you accept a buyout once in your career, you’re seen differently throughout the rest of your career. Russ is Russ because of his swagger and the way he bleeds with it, the way he plays with it. You can’t retreat from that. You can’t let go of that because that’s what made Russ, Russ – it’s his swagger. If he accepts that, then he’s no longer Russell Westbrook.”
With the NBA training camp approaching soon, the Lakers will hope to solve the Russ problem soon.
After all, when the season starts, the organization won’t want a player who’s unhappy. It will simply increase the risk of the team’s chemistry getting ruined and the Lakers having yet another poor season like last time.
