Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James may have sent a passive aggressive message to the organization following its 0-4 start to the 2022-23 NBA season.

James shared a highlight from Wednesday's 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Instagram and wrote in the caption, "How long will you be taken for granted….."

The 18-time All-Star may have meant something else entirely with his post. Perhaps it was directed at the Lakers' skeptics. This is the same player who adopted "#WashedKing" as a source of motivation.

James hasn't been above publicly sending coded critiques to his own team, though.

In one famous example, he posted, "Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN," on Twitter, in February 2015, which was directed at then-Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love. During the 2022 All-Star break, some thought he was taking a subtle shot at Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka when he praised the Oklahoma City Thunder's and Cleveland Cavaliers' front offices.

Over the summer, James signed an extension with the Lakers that keeps him in L.A. for at least one more year.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported in August that James met with Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham and "drilled home the importance of consistent competitiveness and cohesion." Pelinka, per Haynes, also "promised to provide him with every resource possible to compete for a championship each year he’s with the organization."

The Lakers have so far resisted trading their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, and using those assets as the centerpiece of a deal is easier said than done.

Absent moving Anthony Davis, this is probably Pelinka's last best opportunity for reshuffling the squad around James and making a major upgrade. He absolutely has to get this right, which means not rushing into any decisions.

But the longer the front office waits, the more the losses could pile up and render a midseason move largely meaningless. At the current rate, trading away two first-rounders for short-term help may be a case of throwing good money after bad

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Monday the Lakers "appear determined to give the current roster a proper sample size of 20-to-25 games and assess their needs." If James' Instagram post is any indication, then Pelinka might have to accelerate that timeline if he wants to placate his best player.

The Los Angeles Lakers are fast approaching laughingstock status.

Wednesday's 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets dropped the Lakers to 0-4 for the first time since 2015-16 and just the third time since the franchise moved to Los Angeles.

Playing without the much-maligned Russell Westbrook, the Lakers still couldn't find a rhythm on either end of the floor. LeBron James finished with 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds but turned the ball over eight times and made just eight of his 21 shot attempts.

"I wasn't aggressive enough in a lot of my turnovers," James told reporters. "I was coming off a lot of screens, looking to pass, get guys involved, and I wasn't aggressive enough. ... That's an easy fix for me. I'll be much better on Friday with that. I've done it over and over the course of my career. That's an easy fix. I'm not worried about that."

James may not be admitting concern publicly, but this season is already an unmitigated disaster. The Lakers look listless on both ends of the floor, the front office looks incompetent for still not recognizing Westbrook's poor fit on the roster, and somewhere Frank Vogel is collecting a check likely thankful he can't be blamed for this year's mess.

Oh, and social media is letting the Lakers have it.

The fact of the matter is the Lakers' issues start at the top with owner Jeanie Buss. The daughter of the late Dr. Jerry Buss fully took the organizational reins in 2017 and has not shown the acumen to lead a successful franchise.

While the Lakers won a championship in 2020 under her stewardship, they did so simply thanks to James' desire to live full-time in Los Angeles and thanks to Klutch Sports' relationship with Anthony Davis. It's not even clear if the Lakers would have won that title if a once-in-a-century pandemic did not hit and allow the veteran-laden roster to have multiple months to rest and recover.

Rob Pelinka, the man in charge of constructing the failing rosters that followed the 2020 title, somehow landed a contract extension through 2026 before this season began. Buss' internal brain trust includes Pelinka, Kurt Rambis and Phil Jackson—three people who do not have particularly glowing recent track records.

The Lakers players deserve their fair share of the blame, but it's hard to win with a poorly constructed roster and an ownership group that cares more about luxury-tax concerns than building the best team.

All three of the Lakers' 0-4 starts since coming to Los Angeles have been in the last decade. There's only one common thread, and it's at the very top of the organization.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James expressed his belief Wednesday night that a lack of familiarity has played a role in L.A.'s disappointing 0-4 start.

Following a 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets, James told reporters: "It's a new system. It's a new group of guys together. We're still trying to get familiar with one another."

While James and Anthony Davis are back as the core of the team, much of the supporting cast has changed, plus the Lakers have a first-time head coach Darvin Ham following the firing of Frank Vogel at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

Russell Westbrook did not play on Wednesday night due to a hamstring injury, primarily leaving James and Davis to share the court with players who either didn't play or weren't on the team last season.

Lonnie Walker IV, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, Troy Brown Jr., Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson were among the players who saw significant minutes against Denver after not playing at all for the Lakers last season.

None of them had particularly strong performances Wednesday, and it didn't help that LeBron had a down game as well, finishing with just 19 points on 8-of-21 shooting, with nine assists, seven rebounds and a game-high eight turnovers.

While it has been an ugly start to the season for the Lakers, Ham believes it is still possible to turn things around, saying: "We're four games [in] and it sucks to lose, but we have 78 games left. It's plenty of time for us to right the ship. And it starts now."

The biggest issue for the Lakers is the fact that they are somewhat hamstrung by Westbrook's $47 million salary this season.

Westbrook doesn't have much trade value on the heels of his struggles last season in his first year with the Lakers, and without shipping him elsewhere, the Lakers don't have the room to acquire other players.

The Lakers also don't have many valuable assets to trade since they dealt many of their draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the deal for Davis.

That trade paid dividends, as the Lakers won an NBA championship in 2020, but they are suffering the consequences currently.

There is added incentive to turn things around and get in the playoff mix this season since the Pelicans own the Lakers' 2023 first-round pick, which is presently in line to be among the top selections.

The Lakers are coming off a disappointing 2021-22 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs due in large part to James and Davis missing time with injuries, but even with a healthy LeBron and AD this season, L.A. has not come close to looking the part of a playoff team.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Russell Westbrook both want a fresh start with a trade, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

"He knows they want him gone," Smith said on NBA Countdown. "From what I'm hearing, he practically wants to be gone, but they can't just let him go for nothing."

The Lakers are 0-3 to start the season, with Westbrook averaging just 10.3 points per game on 28.9 percent shooting from the field. He suffered a hamstring injury in the last game and was listed as doubtful for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Westbrook is expected to come off the bench when he returns.

The veteran has been opposed to this idea, saying being out of the starting lineup in a preseason game is what initially caused his hamstring injury.

"I've been doing the same thing for 14 years straight," Westbrook told reporters. "Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame."

The 33-year-old has started every regular-season game he's played since his rookie year in 2008-09.

While Westbrook seemingly wants out, the Lakers reportedly want to stay patient before making a decision.

According to Charania, the front office is determined to wait 20-to-25 games to assess the roster before making any deal.

If the Lakers continue to struggle, however, they might be forced to make a move earlier than planned.

The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed film star Will Smith to speak with the team as part of their "Genius Talk" series.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, David Blaine and Kendrick Lamar are among the luminaries who have offered their insights to the Lakers in recent years.

The "Genius Talks" were the brainchild of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson. In addition to providing motivation, the idea was allowing the players to expand their focus beyond basketball as well.

"Listen, this series has meant a lot to our Lakers," Johnson said to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk in 2018. "To have them in front of our guys, explaining how they became successful, has meant a lot, and it changed their lives."

Unless Smith had any worthwhile trade ideas for Pelinka involving Russell Westbrook, the practical impact of his speech might be somewhat limited this time around, though.

Austin Reaves reportedly could be auditioning for a starting role when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets in Wednesday's game.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Reaves will start for Russell Westbrook, who will miss the game with a hamstring injury. If the 24-year-old plays well, it may be more of a permanent move.

"This is very much a move that the Lakers could continue depending on how tonight's game goes and depending on how they feel about the rotation," Charania added.

The idea of Westbrook potentially coming off the bench for the Lakers this season is not a new one.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski suggested it is "probably inevitable unless his performance changes," and the future Hall of Famer came off the bench during the team's preseason finale against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 14.

He happened to suffer a hamstring injury during that game and he blamed not starting for the ailment, telling reporters, "I've been doing the same thing for 14 years straight. Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame. Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to stay warm and loose. ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to."

Westbrook started the Lakers' first three games of the regular season and was downright abysmal.

Los Angeles lost all three contests, and the guard shot 28.9 percent from the field and 8.3 percent from three-point range. The team was outscored by 7.9 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, per Basketball Reference.

It is a continuation of the issues that plagued him in 2021-22 as he struggled to adjust to a new role on a new team where he wouldn't be as ball-dominant like he was during his prime. His shooting woes also don't play well alongside LeBron James given the space the King creates with all the defensive attention he draws.

The Lakers didn't even make the play-in tournament last season and could be in for a similar fate if nothing changes after an 0-3 start to the 2022-23 campaign.

Perhaps shifting Westbrook to more of a bench role where he can be more aggressive as a creator and ball-handler as part of the second unit could change that. Or maybe a trade will happen down the line.

For now, Reaves is in line to start after averaging 4.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19 minutes per game to start the season.

Russell Westbrook's absence because of a hamstring injury may not keep him out for very long.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the nine-time All-Star is "hopeful" to return for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Westbrook is officially listed as doubtful for Wednesday's contest vs. the Denver Nuggets, and Wojnarowski noted he is unlikely to play.

Westbrook injured his hamstring during the Lakers' final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 14.

Despite the injury, he was back in the starting lineup for the season opener Oct. 18 against the Golden State Warriors. He told reporters after the game that the change in his normal routine played a role in his getting hurt.

"I've been doing the same thing for 14 years straight," Westbrook said. "Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame. Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to stay warm and loose. ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to."

He said he could have gone back into the preseason contest against the Kings, but he "wasn't going to risk it" for an exhibition game.

Based on the early returns, it's not a surprise the Lakers would try to get Westbrook additional rest. The 33-year-old has made just 11 of his 38 field-goal attempts (28.9 percent), including one of 12 from three-point range, in three games.

The struggles for Westbrook are emblematic of many problems the Lakers are trying to figure out. Their offense ranks 29th in scoring average (103.3 points per game), last in rating (97.3) and last in field-goal percentage (40.7).

Los Angeles ranks sixth in the NBA in three-point attempts per game (39.3) but last in success rate (21.2 percent).

The Lakers are also playing without Dennis Schroder, who is recovering from thumb surgery. This likely means Austin Reaves will be the starting point guard Wednesday

Los Angeles will look to win its first game of the season against the Nuggets at Ball Arena.

Russell Westbrook may not be long for the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup.

"I think a Russell Westbrook move to the bench is probably inevitable unless his performance changes, the team's performance changes," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said Wednesday on Get Up (3:50 mark).

Westbrook is expected to miss Wednesday's game against the Denver Nuggets with a lingering hamstring injury. He first suffered the injury in the Lakers' preseason finale, in which he came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season.

"I've been doing the same thing for 14 years straight," Westbrook told reporters last week, at least partially attributing the hamstring injury to coming off the bench. "Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame. Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to stay warm and loose. ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to."

Westbrook has been in the starting lineup for the Lakers' first three games, all losses, and is continuing to fail to mesh with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the floor. He's averaging 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting a ghastly 28.9 percent.

The Lakers have been outscored by 7.9 points per 100 possessions with Westbrook on the floor. While they've been trounced in minutes Westbrook has sat as well, it's worth noting that most of his minutes have come with the starters, when the Lakers should presumably be at their best.

The Lakers' decision to hold on to Westbrook rather than part with their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in a trade looks like a seismic mistake. Westbrook doesn't fit with this roster in the slightest, and capable veterans who are available in a trade could shift this season from an impending disaster to salvageable.

Westbrook's dreadful play is doing nothing but raising the price for taking him on.

Only three games into the 2022-23 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers already find themselves at a crossroads. The Lakers are 0-3, tied for last place in the Western Conference, and find themselves with a Russell Westbrook problem yet again.

Westbrook, the much-maligned star and prized 2021 offseason acquisition, still isn't fitting with the Lakers' core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He's been a better defender under rookie head coach Darvin Ham—albeit in a small sample—but his shot selection remains puzzling.

Through three games, Westbrook has shot an abysmal 30.3 percent from the floor. His inability to create and poor decision-making led directly to Sunday's 106-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Westbrook entered that game with less than five minutes remaining, and the Lakers held an eight-point lead. He badly missed a wide-open three-pointer in the final minutes and then pulled off this head-scratcher with 30 seconds in the game and 18 on the shot clock:

That's bad situational basketball, and Westbrook's teammates were understandably perplexed. Westbrook's brick led to a Trail Blazers comeback, leaving L.A. in search of its first win and for answers.

For some fans—and likely a contingent of the Lakers' front office—the good news is that a Westbrook trade could still happen this season. According to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, a deal with the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner is still doable.

Los Angeles might also have a trade partner in the Utah Jazz, per O'Connor:

"Utah has been connected to the Lakers for months, too. League sources say that before the Jazz sent Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pistons, the Lakers offered Westbrook, a future first-round pick, and second-rounders for Bogdanovic and others. Sources expect the Lakers and Jazz to resume talks later in the season with some combination of other players discussed. (Utah has Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gay—three veterans who can all shoot.)"

However, a trade isn't on the immediate horizon. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Lakers will likely wait until after Thanksgiving—when Dennis Schröder is expected to return—to flip the switch on a deal.

This leads us back to Ham, who must figure out a way to mitigate Westbrook's poor shooting in the interim. If the 33-year-old continues costing L.A. games, a trade at any point in 2022 might not make a lot of sense.

The idea of acquiring a shooter like Hield or Clarkson is intriguing. Another perimeter threat would complement the Lakers core far better than Westbrook is right now. However, giving up future first-round capital is only logical if the Lakers can make a playoff run this season.

If the Lakers are in too deep of a hole by Thanksgiving, that may not be possible. At that point, paying Westbrook, keeping the picks and chalking up a lost season may be L.A.'s best option.

However, if Ham can find a better role for Westbrook, L.A. may be able to turn things around quickly. I've long been a firm believer that Ham can get more out of Westbrook than Frank Vogel ever did because he's a new coach and open to building a system around his players.

Ham also seems to have a much better relationship with Westbrook. This led to Westbrook at least being open to the idea of coming off the bench late in the preseason.

According to Sam Amick and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, this was a strategy that couldn't have worked under Vogel:

"After evaluating their lineups and rotation in training camp and the preseason, the Lakers determined in recent days, sources say, that it would be best to stagger James and Westbrook. It was something the Lakers considered doing last season, but then-head coach Frank Vogel was reluctant because he feared Westbrook wouldn’t respond well to coming off the bench."

Of course, the experiment of using Westbrook as a sixth man hasn't continued into the regular season. Instead, he has started all three games and averaged 28.7 minutes. Notably, Westbrook also pushed back against the idea of being a role player, blaming his status on the bench for his preseason hamstring injury.

"Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame," Westbrook said, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to stay warm and loose. ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to."

For the good of the team, though, Ham must revisit the idea of bringing Westbrook off the bench, even if it upsets his third star. Westbrook can provide a big tempo shift offensively in spurts, but he's a clear liability when playing significant minutes and in clutch situations.

As a fast-break specialist, a distributor and a willing defender, Westbrook can still have a valuable role for this team—even if it's only temporary. But allowing him to chuck up 12.7 shots per game while missing the majority of them isn't the answer.

Short of telling Westbrook that he isn't allowed to shoot the ball, the only answer is finding a role for him that does work. While Westbrook probably won't like it, that may mean using him only as a fill-in change of pace.