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Russell Westbrook has an unsure future with the Los Angeles Lakers after the franchise acquired veteran guard — and Westbrook nemesis — Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported this week that the Lakers are anticipated to commerce Westbrook or have him not play.
“Beverley’s arrival makes it extra seemingly that Westbrook shall be off the lively roster by the beginning of coaching camp, both by way of a commerce or the crew sending him dwelling à la the Rockets with John Wall final season, in keeping with a supply near the scenario,” Buha wrote.
The deal to amass Beverley, which despatched Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to Utah, got here within the wake of the Brooklyn Nets asserting that Kevin Durant shall be staying put. The announcement seemingly means the identical for Kyrie Irving, who was regularly linked to the Lakers in commerce discussions this offseason.
Beverley, 34, spent the 2021-22 NBA season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 9.2 factors, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 40.6%/34.3%/72.2%. Beverley was a part of Minnesota’s commerce package deal for Jazz heart Rudy Gobert.
And at this cut-off date, Skip Bayless, co-host of “Undisputed,” mentioned he sees Beverley as extra priceless for the Lakers than Westbrook.
“That indicated to me that perhaps one thing was brewing,” Bayless mentioned of the commerce. “The skids had been greased to eliminate Russ. Perhaps they obtained a deal on the entrance burner for Russ to go as a result of I do not suppose it will work between the 2 of them, not to mention the truth that now Patrick goes to take some, if not a complete lot, of Russ’ minutes.
“As God is my witness, what I imagine right here is Patrick Beverley proper now could be higher than Russell Westbrook. He is extra priceless in so some ways. He is so much higher three-point shooter. He is a greater playmaker. … He does not make spectacular performs, however he makes all the proper performs.”
Does Beverley commerce sign finish of Westbrook-Lakers period?
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless share what they imagine will occur with Russell Westbrook and the Lakers subsequent season.
Los Angeles acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in 2021. He and the Lakers went 33-49 final season, lacking the Western Convention playoffs. Westbrook averaged 18.5 factors, 7.4 rebounds and seven.1 assists per recreation whereas capturing 44.4%/29.8%/66.7%.
With one other potential lead guard within the combine (Beverley), how do head coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers make the items match?
Shannon Sharpe does not see the Lakers telling Westbrook to go dwelling, anticipating both a commerce or a buyout.
“I discover it simply so onerous for me to imagine that the Lakers would simply ship him dwelling à la John Wall,” Sharpe mentioned. “I imagine the Lakers can commerce Russ. His agent mentioned principally, ‘You are going to should throw in that further choose.’ The one approach Russ will get traded for is that this: He and his agent are going to should conform to, ‘You are getting purchased out. We’re buying and selling so that you can purchase you out.'”
Los Angeles has signed Lonnie Walker, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones this offseason.
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