The Los Angeles Lakers seem set on heading into training camp for the 2022-23 season with their current roster, which features two very bitter rivals together. Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook have years of animosity between them, with Beverley attacking Westbrook last season when Russ was struggling, and Beverley was playing a crucial role in the Minnesota Timberwolves playoff push.
Many assumed that the Lakers acquiring Beverley meant Russ would be traded elsewhere. However, the Lakers have insisted on keeping the two together on the team, with the players envisioning a backcourt between them on the floor.
Skip Bayless sent out a tweet implying that PatBev will want to make it work in LA, but Westbrook will get jealous of him if he starts outshining Russ or taking his minutes away. Beverley personally responded to what Skip said on his Twitter and told the analyst that he has a good feeling about his partnership with Westbrook.
Naw Skip I have a good feeling about this🙏🏾🏀 https://t.co/HXXTmtEEW8
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) September 8, 2022
Do The Lakers Need To Trade Russell Westbrook?
The Lakers have a lot of question marks around them. One of those question marks is whether Russ can actually sacrifice and be a role player, given how last season ended. LeBron James is the clear best player on the team but is entering Year 20 of his career, which means he needs someone to shoulder the load.
The Lakers have already said Anthony Davis will run the offense in LA, but depth isn’t something the Lakers should scoff at. They have been rumored to acquire either Myles Turner and Buddy Hield or multiple veterans in Utah like Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Mike Conley.
Depth would be nice, but Russ was an All-NBA level player not too long ago. If the Lakers are confident that the new coaching staff will be able to better employ the talents of someone like Westbrook, they should at least give him a few months into the season to prove himself. If it still doesn’t work out, the Lakers can look at trades prior to the trade deadline.
