If the Lakers strike out on the Kyrie Irving chase, they’ll have no choice but to endure another season with Russell Westbrook.
On paper, the guy is easily one of the best point guards in NBA history. He’s super athletic, can make plays on the court, and is a triple-double machine that can do a variety of different things.
Unfortunately, the player he used to be is not the same player he is today, and not everyone is convinced we’ll ever see the prime version of Westbrook again. On ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ on Friday, Nick Friedell unleashed on Russ and explained why he believes the star guard’s best days as a player are behind him.
“The tape does not lie. He’s not the same player and no matter what system or format you put him in, that player from Oklahoma City … he’s not coming back.”
.@NickFriedell didn’t hold back on Russell Westbrook 😳
"The tape does not lie. He’s not the same player and no matter what system or format you put him in, that player from Oklahoma City … he’s not coming back." pic.twitter.com/D5ne5PBrNf
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 8, 2022
In OKC, Russ was adored by the fans. After James Harden and Kevin Durant left him behind, he continued to give maximum effort for the Thunder and kept them relevant as a franchise for years before he, too, eventually moved on.
Sadly, things were never the same for Russ. His stints in Houston, D.C., and Los Angeles ended in disaster, and his value is as low now as it has ever been.
As the Lakers look around the league for potential deals, the possibility of him returning for a second season continues to haunt those within the organization who have already prioritized the acquisition of Kyrie Irving.
“They can’t keep getting away with it,” said NBA analyst Ryan Blackburn on L.A.’s quest to trade Westbrook this summer. “The Lakers traded all of their picks, vomited all over themselves publicly and repeatedly all of last season, and now, somehow, they’re going to get out of the Russell Westbrook contract for an All-Star talent that’s an infinitely better fit, albeit psychotic.”
The Lakers have a lot of problems, and while a Westbrook/Irving swap will not solve all of them, it would certainly be a great start to turning things around for the Purple and Gold.
At this point, it seems Westbrook’s MVP days are over, and he’s just not the kind of player who can adapt and sacrifice his game for the betterment of the team.
