Nine time All-Star Russell Westbrook has found another home.
Two years ago when the Los Angeles Lakers had acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards back in 2019 everyone thought it was going to bring the city of LA another championship playing alongside superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Most people thought when the trade happen, that it would automatically make them an NBA championship caliber team.
Westbrooks first year on the Lakers, didn’t go so well. Playing alongside LeBron both are players who need the ball in their hands to be successful. Having two players with this trait can make it difficult for one player like Westbrook to get into a rhythm during the game.
As a result the previous Head Coach Frank Vogel tried many options to make Russell Westbrook better as a player. He tried to find a way for the team to be successful with Westbrook being a key factor in that success.
Sadly, it never worked out, they bumped heads on many occasions. With that and the Lakers having a brutal season, it didn’t make for a cohesive locker room or team.
After the Lakers didn’t make the postseason there was many people that had pointed the finger at Westbrook. Saying “he needs to be traded” or “it’s never going to work.”
Before Free agency last Summer, everyone thought that he was going to get traded for NBA Superstar Kyrie Irving. They thought this because the Nets didn’t offer him a max contract and it would be the perfect swap.
Also, over the summer the Lakers had hired Darvin Ham as the teams new coach to hopefully solve the issues from the past season.
At the start of the season, the Lakers were not doing great, they were playing poorly starting off 2-8.
After the first 10 games of the season Head Coach Darvin Ham had to make some changes to try to save the season. So to try to resolve that, the team decided it was best if Westbrook come off the bench.
From game 11 to the All-Star break, he flourished in his role.
He looked happy on the court, the team started playing good basketball.
As the trade deadline was coming close to ending, GM Rob Pelinka had to go all in to try to get this team back to the playoffs.
As a result they thought it was best to trade Russell Westbrook in a 3 team trade between the Lakers the Utah Jazz and also the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It sent Rusell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz, with the Lakers getting D’Angelo Russell in return.
With Westbrook still trying to get a ring it was best that he got brought out by the Utah Jazz and get on team that is a Playoff contender so he can try to get his first NBA Championship.
His best friend Paul George who is on the Los Angeles Clippers had pushed forward to get Westbrook.
As a result Westbrook look happy playing basketball again, he is still in his home town in Los Angeles and hopes to make a playoff run when the postseason roles around in the spring.