Within the Los Angeles Lakers organization, there appears to be a division of sentiments regarding the controversial trade for Russell Westbrook in 2021. Recent comments from Jovan Buha of The Athletic shed light on the internal reflections following the trade that involved sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Westbrook.
During a YouTube Q&A session, Buha indicated that while there has been some accountability for the challenges related to Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers, there is also a tendency for various parties to shift blame among themselves. He noted that the decision to acquire Westbrook involved contributions from the stars, the front office, and ownership, highlighting the shared responsibility for the outcome.
The Lakers had previously celebrated a championship win in 2020, but a disappointing first-round playoff exit in the subsequent season prompted management to pursue Westbrook in hopes of creating a formidable “Big 3” alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, despite Westbrook’s impressive credentials as a nine-time All-Star and former NBA MVP, his performance did not align with the team’s expectations. His two-season stint ended with averages of 17.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game, showing struggles particularly in shooting efficiency.
In his first full season with the Lakers, the team ended up with a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs entirely. After a reduced role the following year, Westbrook was traded ahead of the deadline, with the team bouncing back to the Western Conference Finals in his absence.
Despite this turbulent period, Buha suggests that the earlier championship success and the subsequent playoff performance have provided some leeway for general manager Rob Pelinka, who maintains a good relationship with owner Jeanie Buss. There are no discussions of parting ways with him at this point.
Currently, the Lakers seem to be on an upswing, starting the season with a promising 10-5 record and ranking fourth in the Western Conference. With the core of James and Davis supported by emerging talents like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and rookie Dalton Knecht, there is optimism for the team’s direction.
Overall, this situation illustrates that while mistakes can be made in high-stakes environments like the NBA, the ability to learn from these decisions and rebuild effectively is critical. The Lakers’ current performance suggests a hopeful resurgence as they work towards regaining their elite status in the league.