Russell Westbrook Wife Rips ‘Sick’ ESPN on ‘Lakers Vampire’ Charge; Mavs Buyout?
DALLAS - The Los Angeles Lakers have dumped Russell Westbrook in their three-way trade with Minnesota and Utah, and the Jazz are now expected to consider dumping him again via a buyout.
And DallasBasketball.com isn't the only outlet pondering whether "The New Mavs'' - featuring Luka Doncic with trade acquisition Kyrie Irving - might be a suitable dumping ground.
The Mavs are saying the need a wing, not a guard. So there’s that.
Oh, and also, Westbrook’s wife is saying her husband is not a “blood-sucking vampire,” so there’s that, too.
To basketball … Our Dalton Trigg, before the three-way deal went down, suggested the idea, writing, "The Mavs, who could still use a true third ball-hander off the bench, should at least consider bringing in the former MVP on a rest-of-the-season veteran minimum deal.''
And now HoopsHype is listing Dallas as one of six possible post-buyout destinations.
The standard initial reaction: "What are they, nuts?''
But we're reminded of what we wrote just before the Mavs' Kyrie talks heated up, arguing against the foolish idea that Kyrie and Luka won't mesh off the court because they're different "personas.''
What we said in short: "The Mavs aren't dumb.''
And our point was two-fold: One, of course Kyrie and Luka have different off-court "personas.'' But so what? How many Lukas do we think we're going to dig up around here? And two, Dallas needs better basketball players on its roster, especially important as the West, shy of No. 1 seed Denver, is wide-open.
And therefore, so should the Mavs' minds be - wide-open, that is.
There are other teams interested in Westbrook if bought out. That list reportedly includes the Clippers, the Heat and the Bulls.
"What are they, nuts?''
Actually, there is wisdom in at least exploring this. Westbrook, as wacky as his game can be on the floor, is averaging 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists. He is a "volume shooter'' and he is another well-known "persona'' ... who would cost the Mavs virtually nothing.
Last season, the Mavs made it to the Western Finals with a "big three'' of Doncic, Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie. Is there a way to repeat that success with a trio of Doncic, Irving and Westbrook?
Now, to the name-calling …
Is Westbrook a "blood-sucking vampire,'' as respected reporter Dave Dave McMenamin suggests?
His wife Nina does not appreciate the characterization.
“This is just sick ESPN… Russell is no vampire,” Nina wrote. “This also slander because anyone who knows anything knows that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“On a personal note, I have school aged children who have to listen to their peers repeat the nasty things that you guys say on television about their father. I guess I will prepare myself to explain to my 5 year old that his dad is not actually a vampire and that major news outlets only say things like that to get attention.”
The couple has twin daughters, Jordyn and Skye, 4, and son Noah, 5.
In Westbrook’s defense: Teams in contention seem quite interested in pursuing him.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Mavericks? Click Here.
