Russell Westbrook admitted he and the Lakers had a “very disappointing season” and took a swipe at now-former head coach Frank Vogel during his postseason press conference. Westbrook was often benched in late-game situations and didn’t seem to understand why, according to Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
“I’m not sure what his issue was with me,” Westbrook said of Vogel. “When I first got here, I just felt that I never was given a fair chance just to be who I need to be to better help this team.”
We have more on the Lakers:
- LeBron James, who is eligible to sign an extension with the team this offseason, plans on a major turnaround next season, Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register writes. “I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, but I’m still hungry for more,” James said. “I’m confident that this organization wants the same. That’s what this organization has always been about. And I also want to just change the narrative of how this franchise can compete at a high level again.”
- VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka admits his roster moves last offseason “did not work” and vows to do a better job this summer, Woike and Turner relay in a separate story. “This was a disappointing Lakers season at every level,” Pelinka said. “In the face of disappointment, our fans expect more, and that’s at every facet. It starts with the front office led by me and our ability to construct the right roster. It starts with the coaches holding players accountable and making sure that there is on-court execution. It goes to our training staff doing everything they can to make sure we have healthy bodies on the court. And it goes to our players to play at … with on-court execution at the highest level because that’s what Lakers fans expect and deserve from all of us.”
- Free agent Malik Monk said “me feeling at home” will be a key to deciding where he’ll play next season, Goon tweets. Monk was one of the few bright spots this season, averaging a career-high 13.8 PPG and 2.9 APG.
- In his offseason preview, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes the Lakers’ salary cap issues and lack of draft picks to improve the roster. He explores how Pelinka might approach the offseason with those limitations. In his own Lakers offseason primer, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha said youth, athleticism, length, shooting and defense must be prioritized, and they need to sign a starting-level wing with their taxpayer midlevel exception.
The last line of this article is the most (and maybe only) relevant information here
“they need to sign a starting-level wing with their taxpayer midlevel exception”
Yes, yes yes
They also need a guard that can defend up top as well …a guy like *Alex Caruso* would do the trick….If only we could get our hands on a fella like that
Avery Bradley! In terms of wings you got RoCo and Ingles in the mid-level range. I like Derrick Jones Jr as a fit for them just for his defensive versatility and will probably only cost half the mid-level.
Dj and Roco sure, not enough D w Ingles
Really tough to find these guys at that price point
And remember the price point is higher in reality. To pay anyone in the mid range level is costing the taxed out Lakers more than the actual salary.
With LeBron, Westy, Davis, THT and Nunn they basically can’t have a 15 man roster and not be a taxpayer. Those guys alone are 145.
@cap
you really think LBJ wishes the Lakers had kept him? I call it the Delladova/Mozgov effect. He makes ok players with hustle look much better than they are and they end up getting far better offers by other teams, who usually end up being disappointed.
7 ppg, 4 assists on 39%/33%/79% isn’t amazing. But he definitely hustles.
Over Tht…yes…oh yes….. The D was a turnstile at every level. Too much energy AD (when he’s out there) had to be expended covering the other 4
I get your LBJ point, and true, and the Laker org probably wanted to shoot higher with a guard that could shoot/space better on O but for Tht man that was a huge whiff . It wasn’t like an open market it was either A or B
But to your point again I think Lbj can make Reaves into a good player as well next year, he just doesn’t provide that up top D we need like Alex tho. It would be nice to have both next year as this team lacks enthusiasm night to night . I have No faith THT ever becomes an even avg NBA player
Caruso has been key for the Bulls this season, worth every penny.
Can’t see how Lakers keep Monk. One of their few bright spots. This team has to stay healthy first. Then they still don’t have enough.
Westbrook is best as a ball dominant PG. Like he was in OKC. When he pushes the ball. And creates offense. They have to use that. Or why did you get him. Westbrook also has to be willing to play the wing. To have team success. They are not moving Westbrook. So some coach has to make it work.
Lakers stay healthy. They are a playoff team. A contender in the West. I think that window is shut.
Westbrook will be traded they got two first round picks and tucker and nunn to package with they can get malcom brodgon and buddy hield and some other player from pacers for sure
Lol
So you’re Indy, you want that contract? The picks are risky to buy Westbrook out? Hield showed signs and Brogdon could be dealt for less money you’d eat by taking on Westbrook.
I kind of feel like that trade is very “meh” for both sides.
Brogdon has this rep as a borderline all star player, but people forget he came in the league late. He’ll be 30 next season. This season he played just 36 games and shot 31% from 3. His TS% has been in the mid-50s now for 3 straight seasons and he seems to have a litany of nagging injuries each season.
From Indy’s POV, those LAL picks are juicy (although would Pelinka part with both of them?), but they’re also *really* far away. And the other benefit (cap room) isn’t as big of a deal when you’re in Indiana.
In an alternate reality.
Blaming the coach is the most Westbrook thing to do. Just say it, the lakers didn’t live up to the hype on the court.
He isn’t wrong tho. Most people are saying that Vogel isn’t to blame, but I disagree. I think everyone knows by now what type of player Westbrook is, except for Vogel. Why Russell wasn’t playing more minutes with Carmelo and the 2nd squad is beyond understanding. He kept trying to make Westbrook into a spot up shooter
It’s doubtful Westbrook would’ve been okay with that, and no way he would risk pissing off Lebron’s buddy. His hands were tied. He probably wanted to make that switch a long time ago.
I think it’s pretty dubious that Russ would have been cool with coming off the bench.
But a big part of this is neither Russ or Frank’s fault – Westbrook just isn’t as explosive anymore, which effectively mean he’s not that good anymore.
Maybe 3 years ago you could throw him in the dunker’s spot and he could have played “off ball” with Bron and been effective. But not anymore.
Or 3 years ago LeBron could have played more of a pick and dive roll with Russ at the point. But not anymore.
This was just destined to be a bad fit – unless Russ and LeBron both started aging in reverse.
And thus concludes the most recent soap opera season of the LA Lakers. God forbid that any half-assed player making $40 million freaking dollars year ever be held accountable for sucking.
Idk what type of bubble these NBA guys live in. It’s just not possible that there hasn’t been teammates, coaching staff, loved ones, commenters, fans, front office people, uber eats drivers, etc that haven’t brought up Westbrooks shooting inefficiencies to him.
How can he with a straight face say “I’m not sure what his issue was with me”.
He finished the season strong but anyone that unaware or their limitations is toxic by nature as a teammate or work partner.
Horrible season from him production wise and as a professional ball player and highly paid representative of the Lakers. If there was an award for most unlikeable NBA player this year he would win hands down. And that says alot because there are a lot of nominees.
Exactly! The defense was just sagging off him, daring him to shoot. And the crowd in home games were screaming out loud for him not to shoot
Never seen that in my 35 years watching the NBA.
RW told us he “is allowed to shoot and miss, is allowed to turn the ball over”. jeeesus. I think he is the most bone-head player ever.
Agreed, dude is in denial, still. Aside from a franchise looking for a circus act, I’m not sure what team would really want this guy on their team next season for more than the vet min
Anyone try telling him he’s not the PG? Probably not if he cannot think what he was doing wrong.
Funny that Westbrook would say that Vogel had an issue with him when he was the one that kept him in the starting lineup when others were trying to get them to bring him off the bench. I still think that Russ is a great player and a first ballot HOF guy but this just further proves that he is not in tune with buying into the team first concept. That is the concept that needs to be bought into to win a championship and unless he finally does he will definitely retire without a ring.
Only way he gets a ring is if he’s traded to a contender and gets injured and can’t play and they win without him.
I think that’s the issue, Westbrook didn’t fit with the starting line up. Even if he has him starting, Vogel should have played him more with Carmelo in the second unit.
What an immature classless child! No wonder more more fans dislike Westbrook. He’s just a selfish clueless egomaniac. His career is over, and he doesnt even know it.
Westbrick the type of guy to miss every shot and blame the rim.
A HC job is to highlight his players strengths & hid his weaknesses, he clearly failed Russ at the most basic level of coaching.
Also I must say you can’t say he didn’t wanna change, people are who they are, you can’t acquire a player & say I will change him in to that, he may or may not change, but ultimately you can’t ever blame someone for not changing, you know how freakingly good Russ is, & his few faults, play with that, overall he will always make you better for it!
“His few faults”… ?!
He’s an uncoachable PG that is a poor ball-handler, as well as an inefficient scorer. How do you hide that when the dude demands the ball?
So Vogel didn’t bench or minimize Westbrooks minutes much and he still spits fire at former coach. Vogel played nice most likely due to him following orders. Catering to stars only hurt that team because they didn’t have any leadership
Vogel must have referred to him as WestBrick at some point.
“Westbrook was often benched in late-game situations and didn’t seem to understand why”
Only one reason: plus/minus.