The Los Angeles Lakers traded Russell Westbrook last week after a disastrous season-and-half long marriage.
By the end of their relationship, things between L.A. and Westbrook had deteriorated so much that the coaching staff reportedly wanted to just send him home.
Fortunately, by some miracle, Rob Pelinka and Co. were able to orchestrate a three-team deal that saw Westbrook shipped off to the Utah Jazz.
Pelinka was quite open about why the felt the need to make the drastic move that he did.
This week, Lakers star LeBron James sent one final message to Westbrook and the rest of the players that had been dealt away at the NBA Trade Deadline.
“First of all, I shout out and salute the guys that left, Russ, Pat, JTA,” James said.
“Also, DJ and Thomas. Those five guys. We all started the season together and tried to work to make some things happen and be the best that we could be out on the floor. So I salute those guys and their commitment to us trying to be as good as we could be on the floor. And right now, I mean, I like the guys that we have coming in.
“I mean, it’s going to take some time for us to get to know one another, but I know that they play the game at a high level.”
Clearly based on that James won’t miss Westbrook too much, which makes sense given the awkwardness that has existed between the pair.
Westbrook’s next move is very up in the air right now. There are three teams interested in signing him after he gets bought out by the Jazz, with one clear frontrunner.
The video speaks for itself. https://t.co/MQazX16Iw9
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 18, 2023
If he goes on to have more success with someone other than the Lakers, James and Co. will have a lot of pie on their face over how that relationship went.
Should Westbrook struggle with his next squad as well, the Lakers will be somewhat vindicated.
What does the future hold for James and Westbrook? An answer one way or the other will emerge immediately after the All-Star Break.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
