The Los Angeles Lakers’ season effectively came to a conclusion on Tuesday night following a disappointing loss to the Phoenix Suns.
While there are obviously games left to be played on the schedule, LA’s most recent defeat eliminated them from playoff contention.
With that, all attention is now turning to this summer – when the front office will have some important decisions to make in an effort to right the ship.
After the Lakers’ loss, one of the key figures responsible for the team’s failings this year, Russell Westbrook, offered an interesting take on the current state of affairs.
“It’s obviously disappointing on many levels,” Westbrook admitted.
Then, in typical Westbrook fashion, he got contentious with the media.
“What did I envision?” he fired off at a reporter. “Is the season over? Is the season over? No? Thank you. What did you envision? Since you spoke for me, I want to know what you envisioned. You still haven’t answered my question. What did I envision? I want to know what you think my vision is.
“I have no expectations, that’s why you don’t know what I envision. The last 4 years I’ve been on 4 different teams. My vision of thinking everything is gonna be peaches and cream, that’s not realistic, that’s not life.
“So I come into every situation, start from ground zero and figure out along the way. I have no expectations of how things will work. I just try to find ways to best help my teammates and that’s about it.”
Westbrook was also asked if he wanted a chance to run it back in LA, only this time with everyone healthy.
“That’s the plan, but nothing is promised,” he said. “Like I said all season long: you gotta play the cards you’re dealt. Yes — we want to be able to see what that looks like, what that entails over the course of an 82-game season. But we’re not sure if that’s guaranteed neither. So, I just hope that we have a chance to be able to do something in the future.”
All in all, it was pretty typical stuff. Everything from the delusional lack of ownership regarding his own failures to the fighting with refs. This has become very on-brand for Westbrook over the last few months. It serves in stark contrast to the mature take Carmelo Anthony offered the same night.
McKayla Maroney’s still got it.https://t.co/9SZ3MQm9Xu
— Game 7 (@game7__) April 5, 2022
This is going to be a summer of many changes for the Lakers. There are already rumblings of an Anthony Davis trade being imminent. LeBron James seems to be plotting a way out of LA, and onto another squad. Maybe Linda Rambis is on her way out. Things are moving rapidly.
Among the key questions heading into the offseason is whether or not the Lakers will be able to move Westbrook. Clearly they want to. But will anyone actually take him off their hands?
Time will tell.
Related: Devin Booker Dances On Lakers’ Grave After Ending Their Season
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.
