There’s no changing the past, but Lakers fans are definitely living in it.
While the Russell Westbrook trade prompted immediate excitement from the community, the experiment hasn’t worked so far, as the Purple and Gold are just 5-5 on the season.
To make matters worse, the Lakers could have traded for Buddy Hield and Kyle Lowry instead had they been willing to part with Talen-Horton Tucker, who is averaging just 8.7 points per game this season.
Before last season’s trade deadline, the Lakers could have traded Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Talen Horton-Tucker to Toronto for Kyle Lowry, but chose not to do so because they didn’t want to lose Talen Horton-Tucker (wrote Reddit user u/jack64467) If they did so, they could have signed Lowry to an extension, as he did want one if he was traded at the deadline.
Also, Kuzma and Harrell, but not Caldwell-Pope, were part of the trade package the Lakers would have sent to Sacramento in exchange for volume shooter Buddy Hield if the Lakers could not get Westbrook, so they could have had Buddy Hield along with Kyle Lowry if it wasn’t for them wanting to keep Talen Horton-Tucker.
Lakers Nation has been looking back on that moment with major regret, and Sunday night’s shooting display by Hield did not help smooth things over.
He dropped five three-pointers, including a first-quarter buzzer-beater that had Twitter users clowning the Lakers for not trading for him when they had the chance.
BUDDY HIELD AT THE BUZZER.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 7, 2021
And we’re stuck with Westbrick I hate it here pic.twitter.com/TXMuO39USN
— Shaq👑 (@LeGOATBurner23) November 7, 2021
Westbrook would of missed the rim
— 𝔹𝕠𝕝𝕨𝕣𝕝𝕕 (@BolWrld) November 7, 2021
Laker fans in shambles rn
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) November 7, 2021
https://twitter.com/Wadesburner/status/1457493256938348545
Meanwhile Westbrick is shooting 1-13 when his team needed him the most
— Confused Houston Fan 🙃😕😐 (@Snyphe) November 7, 2021
https://twitter.com/bernard_dat/status/1457493401750880268
— Lou (@ItsLouFrFr) November 7, 2021
— 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙤 (@WokeMelo) November 7, 2021
At a glance, you can’t blame Lakers fans for coveting Hield. He’s the shooter the team desperately needs right now. Alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he would have thrived.
But Westbrook brings his own skills to the table, and no fan should give up on him after just 10 games.
Hopefully, he gets his act together and plays the guy who won MVP years ago. Because if not, things could get pretty ugly…
