- Draymond Green says he and LeBron James had a phone call and talked about how crazy it is to go from 3 championship rings to 4
- J.R. Smith seen working out alongside Lakers superstar LeBron James
- Bulls legend Scottie Pippen pens emotional letter to his son following his deal with Lakers
- Pacers lottery pick challenges LeBron James: ‘A lot of people say he’s great…he’s going to have to show me he’s better than me’
- Report: Lakers have the most interest out of all teams in Kyrie Irving
- Darvin Ham and Rob Pelinka have had multiple meetings with Russell Westbrook, imploring him to be defense-first player
- 3 reasons the Lakers should stay far away from Kyrie Irving
- Report: Lakers make trade for 2nd-round pick in 2022 NBA Draft
- Brian Windhorst says Kyrie Irving joining Lakers for mid-level exception can’t be ruled out
- Western Conference executive says ‘most likely scenario’ is Russell Westbrook going back to OKC Thunder
Report: Lakers currently have no plans to use 1st-round pick to facilitate Russell Westbrook trade
- Updated: May 24, 2022
The Los Angeles Lakers have a big offseason ahead of them.
Already, the organization is in the depths of a search for a new head coach after parting ways with Frank Vogel earlier this year. Beyond that, the team will need to make some changes to its roster if it has any hope of rebounding from the major disappointment that was the 2021-22 campaign.
One big change that many considered a certainty just a short while ago was the Lakers getting rid of guard Russell Westbrook. However, as time has gone on, it has become clear that the Lakers may not be quite as committed to trading him as previously believed.
The Lakers have reportedly asked coaching candidates how they’d use Westbrook in the lineup. Moreover, the Lakers are reportedly not interested in using a first-round pick to sweeten any potential deal involving the former MVP.
“As of now, they have no intention of using a first-round pick to facilitate a Westbrook trade, according to league sources,” Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported.
With each passing week, it is starting to seem more likely that the Lakers will in fact hold onto Westbrook for next season. If they do, it stands to reason that the main offseason priority will be finding role players that fit alongside Westbrook, Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
That is easier said than done, but a good offseason this summer could absolutely set the Lakers up for success in the 2022-23 campaign.
After all, there is still a huge amount of talent on the Lakers roster. If the team can hire the right coach and bring in the right role players, L.A. could move on from the disappointing 2021-22 season rather quickly.
Related Posts
About Jonathan Sherman
