Lakers coaching candidates are being asked how they would best utilize Russell Westbrook, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick, signifying that Westbrook will be back for 2022-23.
As of now, the Lakers may be hard-pressed to trade Westbrook, anyway. He has a large contract, worth more than $47 million, and is coming off a fairly uneven season.
Coaching candidates are being told that getting the most out of Westbrook is an important part of the job and have been asked how Westbrook would fit into their system, per Amick.
The Lakers seem to think former coach Frank Vogel “didn’t put Westbrook in a strong enough position to succeed last season,” RealGM wrote. Westbrook seemed to agree with those sentiments during exit interviews.
As we’ve relayed, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson is serving as an advisor for the team and is said to be playing a significant role in the coaching search, assisting owner Jeanie Buss, GM Rob Pelinka and executive Kurt Rambis.
Former Wizards and Thunder coach Scott Brooks, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, ESPN analyst and ex-Warriors coach Mark Jackson, and former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson are among those linked to LA’s vacancy. Brooks coached Westbrook in both of his previous stops.
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