The moment the news broke that Patrick Beverley was being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, almost everybody had the same question in mind. What does this mean for Russell Westbrook? Beverley and Westbrook haven’t exactly been on great terms over the years, and there is no love lost between the two.
Things got really heated between the two of them when a somewhat dirty play from Beverley during the 2013 playoffs led to Westbrook suffering a tear in his right meniscus. The two have gone at each other numerous times since then, with Westbrook once famously clowning on Beverley’s defense by stating that Bev just runs around and does nothing. With this backdrop, there were concerns about how the two of them would coexist on the Lakers.
Patrick Beverley Admits He And Russell Westbrook Will Have Some Tough Conversations
The two of them shared a hug as Beverley walked into his first press conference as a Laker, and while they also shared a heartwarming moment during it, Beverley admitted that the two of them would have some tough conversations.
Pat Bev says he and Russell Westbrook will have “tough conversations” at some point.
(via @jovanbuha) pic.twitter.com/mP4CcJ4A0Y
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 6, 2022
Beef that lasts for so long doesn’t just instantly vanish when you become teammates, so we are sure there will be some tough conversations between the two of them. It is also possible that they might not even get the chance to have that, as Westbrook’s future with the Lakers remains up in the air.
He had a disastrous first season in LA, and there is no reason to believe that things will get drastically better in 2022-23, as he just doesn’t fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Someone like Beverley is actually a great fit, as he plays defense while not needing the ball in his hands all the time to contribute well on the offensive end. That is just not Westbrook’s game, and he is not going to suddenly adapt to a new role this late into his career.
That is exactly why reports indicate that it is more likely than not, that the team trades him before the season starts. Even if Russ and Bev do get along, it doesn’t change the fact that the issues from last season will remain this time around as well. The best way to move forward for Westbrook and the Lakers is to part ways, as it would be beneficial to both parties. Bill Simmons, however, claimed that if Westbrook gets traded to the Jazz, then he might end up out of the league, and that would be a very sad way for him to go out. We can just hope for his sake that he lands in a situation where he is wanted and appreciated.
