Lakers News: Multiple Playoff Clubs Eyeing Russell Westbrook If Bought Out
Rejoice, friends, for your Los Angeles Lakers' Great Russell Westbrook Experiment has finally, mercifully, come to a close.
If you just woke up from a nap, you'll be pleased to discover that, earlier tonight, LA made a big-time trade. The team flipped Westbrook's eyesore of a $47.1 million expiring deal, the veteran's minimum deals of useless reserves Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones, a top-four protected 2027 first round draft pick, and a future second rounder as part of a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In exchange, LA added combo guard D'Angelo Russell (reuniting him with former 2021-22 Minnesota teammate Patrick Beverley), wing Malik Beasley, and power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, greatly improving its depth in the process.
Russell Westbrook does not seem long for Utah, although if they're looking to tank games a bit ahead of an exciting draft, he'd certainly be helpful late in games. It appears he will be bought out.
Sources around the NBA have informed Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that the LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls could have interest in adding Westbrook on the buyout market. Those are two teams that ostensibly are looking to win this season, which begs this question: did they watch any Lakers games?
Westbrook is absolutely cooked, counting statistics aside (and even then, his shooting numbers are pretty bad for a guard). He is a detriment to his team in fourth quarters, and lately had devolved into something of a locker room irritant.
