Russell Westbrook & The Lakers Need Each Other...For Now

A deal will likely come sooner or later, in the meantime...

Monday night saw the Lakers kick off the preseason against the Sacramento Kings. While the final tally showed a 30-point Kings victory, the context of the game matters here. LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis only played in the first half and generally looked good, and the Lakers had a halftime lead of 46-41. 

The second half featured largely end-of-the-bench players for the Lakers, with Damian Jones, Thomas Bryant, and Kendrick Nunn sprinkled in. It’s certainly not a positive sign that LA’s third string lost by 35 in the second half, but the more important action had already occurred. 

The sample size is small but we saw noticeable improvements in the energy of the club compared to their lethargic 2021-2022 season. Westbrook, who spent all summer on the trade block and was, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, on the one-yard line to be dealt to Indiana on the eve of Media Day, made real strides and showed buy-in under coach Darvin Ham’s system. 

Perhaps there is some hope for an improved version of Westbrook, after all. 

On paper, the roster is still flawed and moves will almost certainly come at some point. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made it clear that the team is willing to trade both of their future first-round picks in a worthwhile deal, and after what we just saw from Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson, teams may be even more emboldened to tank the season in hopes of landing a generational talent in the draft. 

For the time being, it appears a deal with the Pacers is the most realistic trade option, but the Lakers are waiting to see if 1. Darvin Ham can get Westbrook to fit in ways that Frank Vogel couldn’t and 2. A non-Pacers trade option materializes that offers a bit more bang for their buck. Myles Turner and Buddy Hield are good, but apparently are just short of getting LA to pull the trigger at the price of two unprotected first-round picks.