Speaking on his podcast this week, veteran NBA point guard Patrick Beverley explained how Russell Westbrook’s demotion to the bench last season empowered Darvin Ham to be less forgiving with his rotations. According to Bev, it has also helped make it easier for Darvin to bring D’Angelo Russell off the bench this season, who is a former All-Star himself with the Brooklyn Nets.
“Lakers benched [D’Angelo Russell], and I look back on it. And I think it was very strategic what Darvin Ham did to be able to have the ability to bench a player like Russell Westbrook. Now you can bench anybody. I don’t know if he meant to do that on purpose or it was a strategic move… any type of guard that comes to the Lakers while he’s coaching… it’s ‘I’ll bench Russ, I’ll bench you.'”
If you can bench Russ… you can bench anybody pic.twitter.com/qp2lAGELFy
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) December 29, 2023
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were forced to bench Russell Westbrook in a last-ditch attempt to salvage their season. And while the Lakers did ultimately make the playoffs, it wasn’t until Russ was traded that they started showing signs of life. Whether intentional or not, it has effectively given Ham the green light to experiment at the position, which is why the Lakers have seen up to three different starting point guards this season.
D’Angelo Russell To The Bench
After making the Conference Finals this past spring, the Lakers were optimistic that they could stay within the top four in the West. Sadly, that just hasn’t been the case and it’s left Darvin Ham scrambling for any kind of solution. As the player struggling the most, D’Angelo Russell was the odd man out this season and Ham moved him to the bench in favor of a brand new starting group featuring LeBron James and Taurean Prince in the backcourt.
The results have been mixed so far, but the fans seem to be turning on Russell amid his ugly slump. Against the Celtics on Christmas, he finished with just 8 points in 18 minutes and fans were ready to riot. Long story short, the Lakers have a point guard problem and it’s been a common theme for them in the LeBron James era. As bad as Russell Westbrook was, his resume and cache as a former MVP demanded respect and patience but no such respect will be afforded to D’Angelo Russell, who still has to prove that he can win under pressure.
Lakers Need A New PG
It was a series of mid-season trades that unlocked a new version of the Lakers last season and it seems they’ll need a similar course of action to stop the bleeding this go-round. With enough assets to make at least one notable trade, the Lakers are expected to take action before February’s deadline. One name that has entered the mix is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Amid rough times in the Southeast, his name has emerged as a viable trade piece and his two-way game is the perfect fit next to James and Davis.
The Lakers could also potentially bring back Dennis Schroder, who signed a deal with the Toronto Raptors last summer. Either way, Rob Pelinka needs to do something about this roster and he’ll need to make some tough decisions if he wants to maximize the Lakers’ championship window.
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