“That’s like walking into a restaurant, sitting down and being like ‘I’m very hungry, I want a meal, I will not pay’” - Nick Wright on LA Lakers’ obsession with future picks
The LA Lakers are yet to make a trade in the NBA offseason as new head coach Darvin Ham ponders what the 2022-23 roster will look like.
While it was rumored that Russell Westbrook would be leaving the team during the offseason, Ham put those concerns to rest. Westbrook is supposedly a part of his project, but will be required to make sacrifices.
The Lakers, meanwhile, have repeatedly refused to make any trades that require them to part with draft picks.
"Do the Lakers think they are going to be bad in a few years? You're the Lakers & AD's still there. This obsession with the 2027 & 2029 pick — AD's under contract. LeBron will be there or you'll have money to sign someone. No, I don't think it's going to work." — @getnickwright https://t.co/hw7iCPwFCL
Speaking on the First Things First show, Nick Wright said he was not happy with the Lakers' refusal to trade the all-time triple-double leader at the risk of losing their future picks.
"The Lakers are trying to shop Russell Westbrook but they don't want to attach any picks to him," Wright said. "It's like walking into a restaurant and sitting down and being like 'I'm very hungry, I'll like a meal and I will not pay.' Here's my issue with the Lakers' refusal to attach a pick to move off a player they clearly don't want.
"Do the Lakers think they are going to be bad in a few years? Are they planning for that? You're the Lakers and AD is still there. This obsession with oh we've got to keep our 2027 and our 2029 pick. Anthony Davis' under contract, he's 29 years old. LeBron is either going to be awesome forever or leave and you're going to have money to sign somebody. No, I don't think it's going to work."
What is expected from Russell Westbrook and the LA Lakers in the 2022-23 NBA season?
The LA Lakers will most likely go into the upcoming season with Russell Westbrook on the roster. The $47 million player looked completely out of sorts in the previous season and will be hoping to bounce back.
Thinking back to Russell Westbrook's year in Houston. Generally regarded as a bad season. "Houston has a Westbrook problem" read the headlines. 27 ppg, 8 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.6 spg, career-best 47% FG, All-Star, All-NBA. Russ is just judged differently. It's a tired narrative.
One thing is certain, if he does not execute like the coach wants, he will be given the treatment by Ham, who did not tolerate sloppiness during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Lakers failed to make the playoffs last season, and that's something they will have to rectify in the new campaign.