Russell Westbrook Remains Open To Trade From Lakers

While the Lakers seemingly have been trying with all their might to trade Russell Westbrook, you can’t help but wonder how he feels.

Well, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Westbrook would be just fine if he were sent elsewhere. That’s not to say he’s requested a trade. He’d just be OK with it, Shelburne indicated on The Zach Lowe podcast.

“Russ is very open to a trade,” Shelburne said. “He hasn’t asked for a trade. I’ve been assured of that. But he’s open to that and somebody who wants him and wants to empower him and wants him to be Russell Westbrook of old.”

Of course, as we’ve seen since the trade deadline in February, wanting a Westbrook trade is one thing. Actually being able to pull one off is quite another.

“I just don’t think the Lakers believe right now there’s a Westbrook trade that they have, even with their picks, that elevates them,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said, via RealGM. “The feel around the league is right now, and that can change in a week, the feel around the league from executives I talk to right now is that they’re going to try to make the best of what they have and hope for situations to change in their favor.”

The Lakers finished 33-49 last season, missing the playoffs altogether. Executives around the leaue seem to think they haven’t really do anything to improve themselves, beyond a coaching change from Frank Vogel to Darvin Ham. And most people will tell you that means little in the big scheme of things.

Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, two sources indicated the Lakers are trying to deal Westbrook “with even greater conviction” than previous attempts. But the reality is, he very well could still be with the team at the start of training camp.

Sources have told Hoops Wire that the Lakers have talked to no less than five teams about a Westbrook trade this offseason, as we relayed here. 

Westbrook, 33, averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 78 games last season, but proved to be an overall uneven fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis (when healthy).

The Lakers recently acquired Patrick Beverley in a trade with the Jazz, ramping up talk that they are looking to move on from Westbrook.