Russell Westbrook had an inconsistent tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, showing both his good and bad traits. Though many have consistently criticized him for his turnover-heavy and inefficient playstyle, Russell Westbrook is also frequently a positive on the court due to his energy, playmaking, and rebounding ability. This season, Russell Westbrook has averaged 15.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 7.5 APG.
Now that he has been traded to the Utah Jazz, there is a chance that Russell Westbrook will receive a buyout, and become a free agent. There have already been teams that have registered their interest in acquiring him, and it was previously reported that the Chicago Bulls are the frontrunners to land Russell Westbrook.
Recently, NBA insider Chris Haynes revealed that coach Billy Donovan has already contacted Russell Westbrook in an attempt to recruit him to the Chicago Bulls. Donovan notably coached Westbrook during his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
NEW #thisleague UNCUT, @ChrisBHaynes tells @TheSteinLine that Bulls coach Billy Donovan has already conveyed a backchannel desire to reunite with Russell Westbrook should Westbrook secure a buyout from Utah and become a free agent.
FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/6IECQfFhGC pic.twitter.com/qZqOqk7DM9
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) February 13, 2023
I was told Billy Donovan with the Bulls, his message has been relayed to Russ, that Chicago should be the place for him.
Lonzo Ball does not seem close to returning for the Chicago Bulls, and perhaps adding a point guard like Russell Westbrook will help the team’s offense be more cohesive. Putting a pass-first player like Russell Westbrook next to two score-first players such as Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan could be beneficial for the Bulls, and hopefully, they are able to land the point guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ Poor Performances Didn’t Lie Solely On Russell Westbrook
A large number of people have criticized Russell Westbrook as the main reason the Los Angeles Lakers have been poor for the last season and a half. However, basketball is a team game, and it is never any one player’s fault for a team’s poor performance. Rob Pelinka recently defended Russell Westbrook, claiming that it is “unfair” to put a whole team’s failures “on one player.”
“Our aspirations when we did the Westbrook trade was it would lead to a championship, a contending team. We didn’t meet that goal. So, you have to then look to pivot if something is not working to correct it. … I think it’s really unfair to put the last year and a half, or whatever period of time that is, on one player. I think the whole roster has to come together and fit.”
It is fair to say that Russell Westbrook was simply a poor fit for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is still a player that can contribute well to an NBA franchise. It remains to be seen which team will sign him, but there are a lot of teams that need a player that can give them a boost off the bench.
Hopefully, we see Russell Westbrook thrive at his next destination. Though his chapter with the Los Angeles Lakers ended, he still has a lot left to give, and we’ll see what step he takes next in his career.
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