Russell Westbrook’s Split With Agent Not Related To Uneven Lakers Run

July 16, 2022

Russell Westbrook has parted ways with agent Thad Foucher, though the decision had “nothing to do with the Lakers,” a source told Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the LA Times.

Foucher cited “irreconcilable differences” between he and Westbrook, in a statement to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

“I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history. I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell’s behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.

“Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell — and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.

“Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout. My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.

“Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best.”

Other NBA agents thought Foucher’s statement to ESPN was a bit unusual, Woike and Turner reported.

Either way, the longer things go on, the more it seems as if Westbrook would prefer to be elsewhere next season.

“Westbrook’s future in Los Angeles still seems up in the air,” RealGM wrote. “He and LeBron James notably avoided each other at Summer League recently. The Lakers stars are also reportedly pushing for a trade for Kyrie Irving, which would have to include Westbrook being traded.”