Russell Westbrook, Lakers Share Interest In Parting Ways This Summer

The Lakers and point guard Russell Westbrook have a mutual interest in moving on from each other this offseason, as Westbrook has proven to be a clunk fit, per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

Actually, the futures of Westbrook, coach Frank Vogel and general manager Rob Pelinka in LA are all very much up in the air, Fischer added.

After acquiring Westbrook from the Wizards in a multi-team trade last offseason, the Lakers have remarkably failed to live up to expectations. They explored Westbrook trades ahead of the Feb. 10 deadline, but didn’t like any of the offers from opposing teams, Fischer noted. But the Lakers will most certainly try again.

This, however, is the first mention that Westbrook would like to move on from his hometown club. “Whoever’s to blame, there’s clearly a personality disconnect between Westbrook and the coaching staff,” Fischer wrote.

So with that in mind, “there is mutual interest” in a Westbrook trade this offseason, Fischer added.

Of course, moving Westbrook and his bloated contract won’t be so easy for the Lakers. They desperately hoped to do it in February, but gained almost zero traction. For one, Westbrook’s uneven play this year hasn’t exactly inspired opposing teams to mortgage the farm.

Most rival teams wanted a pick in return — something of which the Lakers don’t exactly have an abundance. For instance, they can’t trade another first-rounder until 2027. They are hesitant to part with that, given that their best player, LeBron James, will be 42-years old that year.

Still, the Lakers will most certainly try their darndest to try to find Westbrook a new home.

“Other team personnel have optimism Westbrook will become more movable once his contract becomes an expiring contract,” Fischer wrote. “Maybe there will be an opportunity to offload Westbrook at the cost of that 2027 first-rounder, when the Lakers would still have the 2029 pick at their disposal heading into the season.”