Lakers No Longer Seem Sold on Russell Westbrook as He Struggles to Mesh With LeBron James and Anthony Davis

The Lakers had been all-in on Russell Westbrook and LA, but now that he has seemingly failed to mesh with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they may have second thoughts.

The “Lakers 2021” is a blog post that discusses the struggles of Russell Westbrook to mesh with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Read more in detail here: lakers 2021.

The Los Angeles Lakers have battled through a difficult start, casting doubt on their prospects of winning the NBA championship. Due to the Lakers’ inconsistency, doubts have been raised about the rebuilt roster’s fit. The focus has shifted to the future of star point guard Russell Westbrook in Los Angeles.

The Lakers have had a difficult start to the season.

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Following a hectic summer, the Lakers entered the 2021-22 season well knowing that they would face a significant transition period.

Los Angeles has struggled to a 15-13 record through the first 28 games. The team’s slow start has been linked to numerous injuries that have hampered their performance, as well as their poor defensive play. Because James has missed 12 games, the offseason acquisitions, particularly Westbrook, have been forced to fill roles that they would not have filled if the four-time league MVP was on the court.

Those reasons have compelled the Lakers to take a longer time to develop their identity. Los Angeles is still focused on the big picture, but that hasn’t prevented speculation about potential roster adjustments based on one of its new important players.

Russell Westbrook’s appeal to the Lakers has waned as he battles to fit in alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

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The Lakers’ flaws have steered the focus toward the rebuilt roster’s fit.

Los Angeles hasn’t had much of a cohesive unit, but Westbrook’s performance with LeBron James and Anthony Davis has gotten a lot of attention. The former league MVP has had to adjust to his new position as the third scoring option, something he hasn’t played before in his career.

As a result, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Lakers have conducted internal discussions about possibly relocating the star point guard.

“The combination of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook just hasn’t gelled as well as Lakers officials had planned, and Los Angeles has conducted internal conversations about trade options for Russell Westbrook, league sources tell B/R,” Fischer said. “However, trading Westbrook and the two-year, $91 million deal he has left seems doubtful.” 

Even if the Lakers had such discussions, it’s difficult to picture them pulling the plug so soon. Meanwhile, the trade deadline isn’t for another two months, and James’ injury woes have prevented him from developing greater on-court chemistry.

It’s also impossible to see another team picking up Westbrook’s $44.2 million payroll. He also has a player option for about $47 million for next season, which raises substantial doubts about his long-term future. He’s a gifted athlete, but committing such a large sum of money, particularly during the season, would be a difficult task for any organization.

Finally, since the Lakers are still sorting out their identity, any speculations about Westbrook’s future should be dismissed. The great guard is a big part of solving that problem, and his performance will be crucial in getting the club closer to an NBA championship.

LeBron James encourages people to be patient with the process.

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It’s easy to believe that the Lakers’ roster isn’t strong enough to contend for a title.

Los Angeles’ early-season problems serve as the foundation for that conversation, since the squad isn’t performing like a championship contender. The Lakers, on the other hand, are improving, having won five of their previous seven games.

Following his 101st career triple-double against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, James said that having more minutes on the court together will be the most important element.

“Keep logging minutes on the floor.” “We learn one other and grow better and better with each other, and obviously, communication is the most essential thing, but as you keep learning each other and logging minutes, you’re able to accomplish things out on the court without even saying anything,” James said via Lakers Nation. “You can shut your eyes and predict where your players will be on the field.” We want to keep logging minutes, doing what we need to do, sticking to the game plan, and putting ourselves in a position to succeed.”

The Lakers would have enjoyed a stronger start, but the playoffs are a marathon, not a sprint. The regular season is still 54 games away, giving them plenty of time to work things out.

Spotrac provided the contract numbers.

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