Russell Westbrook was in for a tough challenge in Los Angeles when he joined the Lakers. But fans did not expect his season to be as bad as it was. Westbrook looked quite poor in the purple and gold, and he and the franchise ended up missing the playoffs. Westbrook has been blamed for many of the problems the team had over the course of the season. And it appears he is ready to move on, at least if his Instagram is anything to go by.
One NBA fan posted a screenshot of Russell Westbrook’s Instagram page on Twitter, and it appears he has removed all mentions of the Los Angeles Lakers, and all posts of him in the purple and gold of the Lakers. It appears Westbrook may have closed the door on this chapter of his career and is looking to greener pastures as he enters the offseason with his future uncertain.
That’s all folks! pic.twitter.com/axVgxPJPmZ
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) April 26, 2022
NBA fans reacted to this in the comments, with most of them noting that Westbrook is most likely going to leave the franchise. Many Laker fans in the replies were celebrating, as most of them do not want to see Westbrook back with the team next season. Some fans also pointed out that he has also removed older posts from his time in Houston and Washington from his feed as well.
He deleted all the pictures from Houston and Washington not just the lakers
— Lets Go Lakers (@bigburners123) April 26, 2022
So much from Houston to Washington to lakers
— Jamaal (@jamaal_236) April 26, 2022
— D4K 🗡 (@AyeDak_) April 26, 2022
Prob waiting for a new one
— 💜 In Adou Thiero We Trust 💙 (@LeShoTime) April 26, 2022
Dey getting their death threats ready for whoever they get next 💀
— JP 🪬 (@JPTooTrilll) April 26, 2022
Laker fans when dame don’t drop 25 and 10 standing in a corner all game pic.twitter.com/LsEQGepPgr
— JP 🪬 (@JPTooTrilll) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/buyingall5stock/status/1518787216742436864https://twitter.com/buyingall5stock/status/1518788471489536001
Prolly for the best at this point 😕
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) April 26, 2022
Westbrook’s trade value is incredibly low right now, and him opting into his $47 million option will not make things any easier for the Lakers. But for a player of Westbrook’s ambition, it isn’t unlikely that he doesn’t opt into the option, and chooses to test free agency and sign with a new team.
The Lakers will hope that he signs the option, regardless of the wages, because it would allow them to get something in return for Westbrook. But as things stand, there is no clarity as to what he will end up doing during this offseason, and how the Lakers will have to respond.
