Reports: LA Lakers expected to play Russell Westbrook off the bench if he continues thriving
The LA Lakers may consider keeping Russell Westbrook on their roster if he continues to excel coming off the bench. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto learned more on the matter after speaking to multiple executives.
The LA Lakers are coming off their third consecutive win. With a solid display against the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers have slowly started their climb. A major reason for their success has been Russell Westbrook's performance off the bench.
Westbrook was a blockbuster acquisition for the Lakers in the offseason last year. While several expected the Purple and Gold to be title contenders right away, the move appeared to be a bit of a dud.
The nine-time All-Star was made the fall guy for the Lakers' failures as fans erupted and called for a trade. However, Westbrook found himself on the Lakers' roster to start the season.
While his stay was met with immense resistance, Lakers coach Darvin Ham displayed faith in Westbrook's ability. This faith has since paid off as the guard has seen a resurgence as the sixth man for the team.
The LA Lakers have certainly been a different unit with Westbrook leading the bench unit. Additionally, some rumors have suggested that his consistency off the bench may also ensure he stays with the team for the rest of the season.
Michael Scotto mentioned it in a recent article when he wrote:
"While some combination of Rob Pelinka, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield has been trending topics on Twitter after each Lakers loss, many rival executives believe acquiring both players won’t make Los Angeles a contender in the West.
"Some executives believe the Lakers will stand pat and ride out the Westbrook experiment if he continues to produce off the bench."
Report: Multiple executives believe Lakers will ride out entire season with Russell Westbrook if he continues to thrive off bench lakersdaily.com/report-multipl…
Westbrook has repeatedly featured amid trade rumors involving the Lakers. With primary targets including the Indiana Pacers, Scotto made note of the rumors that would resurface after every loss.
However, the Lakers' resurgence has put a damper on some of these rumors as of late. While LeBron James continues to sit out due to injury, the Purple and Gold have held their own and recorded three wins in the span of James' absence.
With Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis taking over the reigns, the Lakers have looked like a fairly competitive side as well. In this regard, keeping the nine-time All-Star on the roster may be more beneficial than trading him.
The LA Lakers shouldn't trade Russell Westbrook
The LA Lakers appear to be a team on the rise after winning their past three games. Needless to say, a major aspect of their success has been Russell Westbrook's splendid performance off the bench.
Since moving to the bench, Russell Westbrook has notched an average of 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists. This is paired with some highly impressive work on the defensive end.
This, paired with the consistency and chemistry he has displayed, provides solid evidence to retain him for the future.
Any trade talks involving the Lakers currently include their remaining picks for the decade. While the Purple and Gold have made their intentions of making the picks available for the right trade, the team may want to play their cards close.
Also Read: NBA Rumors: LA Lakers prudent with trading first-round picks