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Reading: Lakers Have Concern Over Russell Westbrook’s Playoff Viability
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Lakers Have Concern Over Russell Westbrook’s Playoff Viability

Lakers Have Concern Over Russell Westbrook’s Playoff Viability

The Los Angeles Lakers are not convinced of Russell Westbrook giving them high-value production in the playoffs given his play-style.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Jan 31, 2023
3 Min Read
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Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to a short-handed Brooklyn Nets team tonight, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis not participating in the game. Russell Westbrook was still used off the bench and had an inefficient double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Despite the Lakers making a comeback to make the game close in the third, they couldn’t keep up in the fourth and lost. 

Westbrook’s deficiencies were once again on full display for people to scrutinize. The same issues from his nearly 2-year stint with LA could be seen, with careless turnovers and poor decision-making along with his inefficient shot. It seems the Lakers know Russ will be hard to utilize in the playoffs, with Eric Pincus reporting that the Lakers have concerns over Russ possibly in the playoffs.

“The Lakers are fighting to climb into the top 10 in the Western Conference. While coach Darvin Ham has found a viable role for Westbrook off the bench, the franchise does have concerns about his playoff viability, per multiple sources.” (h/t Bleacher Report)

The Lakers aren’t far removed from a playoff spot but are losing pace to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves with recent losses. LeBron James may not be healthy in time to return against New York tomorrow night, so LA’s problems may get worse after that matchup.


Will The Lakers Trade Russell Westbrook?

The production that Russ is giving the Lakers while on a $47 million contract is just not good enough. Even though he has been a useful sixth man, someone with that salary should be a bonafide star, especially with Westbrook being the Lakers’ highest earner ahead of LeBron and Anthony Davis.

With that contract, the Lakers could get up to 3 rotational players that will actively contribute within their roles to help the Lakers make the playoffs. If they’re shooters, they have utility in the playoffs alongside LeBron, unlike Russ, who isn’t an accurate shooter even on open opportunities. A trade with the San Antonio Spurs has been discussed, but it does look like the Lakers will stick with Russ, even with these concerns. 

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TAGGED:Los Angeles Lakers ArchiveRussell Westbrook
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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