About two weeks ago, Russell Westbrook went to LeBron James’ home where Anthony Davis was also in attendance and they discussed the possibility of the star player joining James and Davis on the Lakers.
They talked about putting their egos aside and playing as one in their bid to lead the Lakers to another NBA championship. Westbrook expressed that his only intention was to win and return home to Los Angeles to be champion.
James and Davis talked about changing their position if it is the best thing for the team: James going from forward to power forward and Davis from power forward to power forward.
Westbrook let James and Davis know that he doesn’t mind playing off the ball when James starts the offense, something he did when he was playing alongside James Harden for the Houston Rockets.
Last Thursday, on one of the biggest NBA nights since the Brooklyn draft was held, the three got their wish when the Lakers and Wizards reached a deal to send Westbrook to Los Angeles from Washington, according to two. unauthorized persons to speak publicly about the matter.
The Lakers in turn will send forward Kyle Kuzma, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, backup center Montrezl Harrell and No. 22 first-round pick, Kentucky player Isaiah Jackson, to Washington, according to both people.
The Wizards will pass their 2024 and 2028 second-round picks to the Lakers.
Harrell opting for his $ 9.7 million contract for next season helped the Lakers move forward on the Westbrook deal.
Westbrook, a local product who went to UCLA and Lawndale Leuzinger High, has longed to come home and had his eyes on the Lakers.
Last season he averaged a triple-double, with 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists. He has averaged a triple-double in four of his last five seasons.
Russell Westbrook wears a Kobe Bryant jersey during a playoff game with the Rockets in 2020.
(Kevin C. Cox/Associated Press)
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Westbrook, the NBA’s most valuable player in the 2016-17 season, will be in his fourth team in four years, as he began his career in Oklahoma City, from there he went to Houston and Washington, to finally reach the Lakers.
The Westbrook deal means he will be the starting point guard and Dennis Schroder will probably no longer be needed. Schroder turned down a four-year, $ 84 million contract from the Lakers last season.
Westbrook has two years left on his contract, $ 44.2 million for next season and $ 47 million for 2022-23.
The Lakers will need to work around the trio of Westbrook, James and Davis, especially considering they were a team that shot just 35.4% from three-point range, ranking 21st in the NBA last season.
Westbrook is an offensive player and is not known for his 3-point shooting. Last season he shot 31.5% from 3-point range and has 30.5% from 3-point shots in his 13-year career.
But the Lakers won’t have a lot of money to work with when free agency opens at 3 p.m. Monday.
So to round out a team with just five contract players – James, Davis, Westbrook, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie – the Lakers will have a lot of work to do. (Alex Caruso is an unrestricted free agent and Talen Horton-Tucker is a restricted).
The Lakers will have the mid-level tax exception of $ 5.9 million and will have the minimum veteran exception.
When it comes to shooters, JJ Redick and Wayne Ellington are players you could count on. Redick from 3-point range has 41.5% in his career and Ellington is a 3-point shooter at 38.2%.
As for wing and power forward players, Carmelo Anthony, Garrett Temple and James Johnson are possibilities.
James and Anthony have been friends for a long time and have wanted to play together. Anthony averaged 13.4 points per game last season at Portland and shot 40.9% from 3-point range.
Spencer Dinwiddie had been interested in playing for the Lakers, but his asking price might be too high for this team.
This means that Rob Pelinka, the Lakers vice president of basketball operations, will have to be solid in putting the right pieces around James, Davis and the newly acquired Westbrook.
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