After a difficult first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Russell Westbrook seemed to have turned things around as he thrived off the bench for the team in the 2022-23 campaign. The good times weren’t going to last though as Westbrook hasn’t been playing all that well in recent weeks and the team now seems more than willing to move on.
The Lakers engaged in trade talks regarding Westbrook with the Utah Jazz recently and not long after that, something went down that might have sealed his fate. Kyrie Irving, who had been heavily linked with the Lakers in the past, requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
The Lakers are clearly interested in making a move for Kyrie and any trade package would include Westbrook, for the salaries to match. Russ was asked after their game against the New Orleans Pelicans if there was any additional pressure on him because of all this speculation and he said that isn’t the case.
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“No, I do not. That’s not up to me. Like I said man, I’ve known this is a business since I was 18-19 years old. So I got it, my dad taught me that at a young age that you’re getting to this league, it’s a business and people make whatever decision that they make and I make sure I’m ready professionally like I always have been and always will be.”
That is the right mindset to have and to Westbrook’s credit, he has been quite professional through this whole situation. All parties did try to make this situation work, but ultimately, it just was never the right fit.
Russell Westbrook’s Brother Liked Some Tweets Which Took Shots At The Lakers
An aspect that hasn’t been talked about much in this case is Westbrook’s family. They have had to see someone they love go through some very difficult times and they would feel he has been scapegoated.
His brother Ray Westbrook liked some tweets which blasted LeBron James and the Lakers, with one of them stating they won’t make the playoffs without Russ. There is a chance they might not make it even with him, considering where they are at the moment, but you can understand why his family is so frustrated. Just ending this chapter might well be in the best interests of everybody.
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