Since the Lakers traded for veteran point guard Patrick Beverley, the future of 2021/22 starter Russell Westbrook has seemed murky. Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register wonders if the duo can actually share the floor together, or at the very least both stick around on the team this season.
Swanson reads tea leaves in recent public statements from head coach Darvin Ham and team owner Jeanie Buss that seem to suggest they appreciate Westbrook and his contributions to the club last year. Swanson writes that, because Beverley can function so well off the ball as a catch-and-shoot long range sniper, and can defend at least both guard positions, he could theoretically play alongside Westbrook, who tends to be significantly more ball-dominant.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- With Donovan Mitchell headed to the Cavaliers, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times opines that the Lakers could look to move Westbrook (and draft compensation) to the Jazz, who have already offloaded four of their best veteran players in separate deals this summer, including both their All-Stars. Woike writes that combo forward Bojan Bogdanovic should be L.A.’s top priority, and also floats the possibility of adding some combination of Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley and Rudy Gay into such a deal.
- Suns reserve big man Dario Saric missed all of the 2021/22 season while he recovered from a ruptured ACL in his right knee suffered in the first game of the 2021 Finals. The 6’10” big man played well during the Croatian national team’s FIBA EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifiers in August, writes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
- Three reserve point guards will be duking it out during the Kings‘ training camp later this month. James Ham of Kings Beat assesses each player in terms of their relative strengths and weaknesses on the current Sacramento roster. As a former lottery pick, defensive-oriented second-year guard Davion Mitchell seems guaranteed to get some run behind pricey starter De’Aaron Fox. Ham predicts that Quinn Cook could have an edge over Matthew Dellavedova as the team’s third point guard option.
The Bron Lakers teams at their best had James as the PG. If it ain’t broke why try and fix it? Bron and Davis with defenders and shooters around them is what won them a ring. If Russ can’t be traded and wont accept a bench role, he should be given the John Wall treatment.
Yup. They shouldn’t force a move just to make one. See if it works and if not, enjoy your vacation Russ.
The Jazz are really close to the luxury tax with the Donovan trade. They’ll need to include Conley and Rudy Gay to any deal including Bojan for Westbrook just to make salaries work. If they add those 2x 1sts then that’s something to work with.
Otherwise, the Suns or possibly someone like the Sixers or Heat will want in on a Bojan deal.
Yup, you’ll get that sweet sexy #29 pick for Bojan straight up!
I can’t believe the Sixers didn’t trade for Beverley, he seemed like the perfect fit.
If Lakers can fleece Clarkson, Beasley & Bojan for Russ and picks I wouldn’t be mad at all.
I wouldn’t expect all 3 of those in one deal with the Lakers unless more Laker players are involved or a 3rd team.
I think he’s proven this summer that it’s Danny Ainge who does the fleecing.
you don’t fleece danny ainge, danny ainge fleeces you
The media and the fans are delusional. Westbrook is going nowhere. The chance Russ gets traded is the same as the Knicks have for trading for Donavan Mitchell…oh that’s right, that’s more media BS too.
Jazz should not trade Bogan or anyone good to Lakers, they do not need Westbrook as a role model around the young core.
I’m sure that’s what they are thinking and they’re looking for a deal elsewhere FIRST. But it probably will come down to the Lakers and Danny Ainge will value the Assets in return over a possible negative influence by Russell westbrook.
They are only interested in acquiring draft picks so they will buyout Westbrook’s contract and take picks