"It feels like this trade is way off the table because Russell Westbrook turned into Russell Westbench" - NBA analyst believes Russ' move to bench has decreased chances of Myles Turner trade
From the moment Russell Westbrook landed with the LA Lakers, many were skeptical on whether it was going to work. As a ball-dominant point guard who isn't much of a threat from beyond the arc, he isn't the ideal player to pair with LeBron James.
After a down year in 2021-22, people around the league expected LA to move on from the former MVP in the offseason. This did not happen as the front office was unwilling to part with its draft capital.
In a shocking turn of events, Lakers coach Darvin Ham made a drastic change and moved Westbrook to the bench. So far, the results have been eye-popping. Over the weekend, the All-Star guard posted 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a double-digit win over the Denver Nuggets.
While most still think a trade needs to happen, one analyst thinks this recent adjustment could change people's minds. During a recent episode of FS1's "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed," Skip Bayless opened up on why a trade for Myles Turner seems unlikely for the Lakers now:
"It feels like this trade is way off the table because all of a sudden he's turned into Russell Westbench.
"All of a sudden, it looks like he's, at least early on, on his way to winning Sixth man of the Year. He has a new goal, 'I'll be the Sixth man of the Year.'"
Myles Turner says the Lakers should take a “very hard look” at trading for him:
"It feels like this trade is way off the table because all of a sudden, Russell Westbrook turned into Russell Westbench." — @RealSkipBayless https://t.co/1fsGHEBiTG
Is Skip Bayless right about a Russell Westbrook trade being off the table now?
While the LA Lakers might have figured out a way to get the most out of Russell Westbrook, his success off the bench shouldn't change their minds regarding a trade. Instead, they should use this as a chance to recoup some of his value.
Skip Bayless might think this is a game changer, but the Lakers still have an array of issues that need to be addressed. For starters, their supporting cast isn't strong enough to go head-to-head with other top contenders in the Western Conference.
Bringing Westbrook off the bench might make them appear to be a deeper team, but all that does is throw a role player into the starting lineup. The star guard might be more free to play his style with the second unit, but it doesn't move the needle much for LA in the grand scheme of things.
At the end of the day, the Lakers still desperately lack depth and outside shooting. They should use this hot stretch as an opportunity to entice a team on taking Westbrook and his massive contract.