Lakers Rumors: Russell Westbrook Exercises $47M Contract Option for 2022-23 Season
Jun 28, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Lakers won 101-95. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Russell Westbrook will reportedly remain under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after picking up his $47.1 million player option for 2022-23, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Despite a disappointing 2021-22 season, Westbrook indicated he wanted another shot at competing with the Lakers alongside superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
"I mean, that’s the plan," he told reporters in April before head coach Frank Vogel was fired. "But nothing is promised. You kinda gotta take one day at a time, each day. And like I’ve said all season long, you gotta play the cards you’re dealt. Yes, we want to be able to see what that looks like, what that entails over the course of an 82-game season."
Injuries kept Davis and James off the court for long stretches of the season as the squad finished 33-49, ranking 11th in the Western Conference and outside the play-in tournament.
With their Big Three under contract for next season, the Lakers could have another chance to see if this team can be a contender as constructed.
Los Angeles could also still move Westbrook—either in a trade or a buyout—going into 2022-23 with a fresh start after a poor season.
The nine-time All-Star came to the Lakers last offseason in a trade that sent Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to the Washington Wizards. He made 78 starts in his first year with the team, averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.
Westbrook's efficiency was still a problem. He finished with just 1.7 win shares and a 0.2 value over replacement player, per Basketball Reference, each the worst of his 14-year NBA career.
The Lakers were 3.6 points per 100 possessions worse when Westbrook was on the court compared to off it.
While the 33-year-old gets his guaranteed money for 2022-23, his NBA future remains a question mark.
LeBron James Triple Logoman Card Auctions for Record $2.4M Price
Jun 26, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 21, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 131-120. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
A limited-edition LeBron James card set a new record when it was sold at auction on Saturday night.
Per the official listing from Goldin Auctions, the 2020-21 Panini Flawless Triple Logoman patch card featuring the Los Angeles Lakers superstar went for $2 million.
The final sale price is $2.4 million when factoring in the buyer's premium. It's the highest sale price for a card to be pulled and sold in the same year.
The LeBron James Triple Logoman is the single highest priced card ever to be pulled and sold in the same year 🤯
BusinessWire.com noted this is the "most sought-after modern card in the sports collector world," with a value between $3-5 million.
Per Chris Bumbaca of USA Today, Panini created a total of five triple logoman cards in the 2020-21 Flawless collection. The card features authentic patches of the NBA logo as it has been altered over the years, with images of James from his time with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
“The LeBron James Triple Logoman card is the undisputed holy grail of modern cards,” Goldin founder and executive chairman Ken Goldin told Bumbaca.
James' was the only card in the set to feature three patches from a single player. Other patch cards featured Anthony Edwards/LaMelo Ball/Tyrese Haliburton, Giannis Antetokounmpo/Kevin Durant/Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum/Luka Doncic/Zion Williamson and Draymond Green/Klay Thompson/Stephen Curry.
The packs cost $15,000 each and came in a secure latched box with 10 cards to a pack.
Rap star Drake, acting like Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, spent over $200,000 on 14 boxes in an attempt to find the James card.
Drake posted this on Instagram story four hours ago. It appears to be NBA Flawless boxes, which sell for about $15,000 each. A box has only 10 cards in it. So, these 14 boxes/140 cards combined are worth over $200,000. pic.twitter.com/eKMUcXdmGf
Based on a list of the top sports card sales from Beckett.com, the $2.4 million price for the James Logoman patch card makes it the second-most expensive card sold in 2022.
A version of the Honus Wagner T206 card with a PSA 1 grade was sold for $3.14 million in March. James' patch card bumped a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady Autograph card down to the No. 3 spot ($2.3 million).
Russell Westbrook, John Wall’s Top Trade Landing Spots After 2022 NBA Draft
Jun 24, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,
by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The 2022 NBA draft is over, and attention now turns to free agency and the trade market en route to another potentially explosive offseason.
Two big names who could be on the move include Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets point guard John Wall.
Wall will reportedly pick his up, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic. He has played just 40 games since Jan. 1, 2019, because of a combination of injuries and an agreement with the Rockets to sit this season out as the team built around its younger core of talent. The Rockets clearly have moved on from Wall, even if he's still under contract with them.
Westbrook would presumably do so as well after coming off a down year with the Lakers in which he posted the worst player efficiency rating (15.0) of his 14-year career. L.A. struggled last season with a 33-49 record and missing out on the playoffs. The Lakers could look to move Westbrook after a disastrous season, and a fresh start could be best for both sides.
The question now is whether the Lakers and Rockets find trade partners to engineer moves for their respective stars. Three places stand out as potential landing spots for both.
Miami Heat
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on the Rich Eisen Show that he believes the Miami Heat will "hunt stars" this offseason.
"I think they will be hunters," he said. "I do not think they will be satisfied with running it back. We'll see what opportunities may open themselves in the next couple of months."
Westbrook and Wall's best days may be behind them, but they are still stars in this league at their best.
As far as Miami goes, its lack of scoring depth came to light in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jimmy Butler averaged 25.6 points per game. Bam Adebayo was second with 15.0 points per game, and no one else had 10 or more.
Granted, Tyler Herro missed most of the series with a groin injury, but the Heat could use another player who can complement Butler's offensive output.
Westbrook or Wall could help in that regard.
Granted, last season was a rough offensive showing for the 33-year-old Westbrook, but he's also one year removed from averaging a triple-double with 22.2 points per game for the 2020-21 Washington Wizards.
Wall, 31, also fared well during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season with 20.6 points per game.
New York Knicks
There's been a revolving door at the Knicks' point guard position since Walt "Clyde" Frazier was calling plays in the 1960s and 1970s. It's a never-ending problem in the Big Apple, and it became one this year, too.
The Knicks acquired Kemba Walker but soon benched him, and Derrick Rose missed most of the season with injuries. By the end of the year, Alec Burks was playing out of position and handling the point, with Immanuel Quickley coming off the bench in relief.
New York also struggled offensively, with Julius Randle regressing from his All-Star form in 2020-21. The Knicks need some more help on that end and could use another playmaker (and some stability) at the point to get things going.
On the other end, the Knicks could obtain some future cap flexibility by picking up either Westbrook or Wall, both of whom have just one year left on their deals.
The key here, though, is that the Knicks are heavily rumored to be targeting Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson in unrestricted free agency.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the team is "working to clear salary-cap space for him," and that would coincide with the Knicks' moves on Thursday to move Kemba Walker off the books as well as trade their No. 11 overall pick.
Knicks now projected to generate $18M in cap space after getting off Kemba Walker and the 11th overall pick. $16M is more realistic when keeping Mitchell Robinson's cap hold in mind so they can re-sign him after.
However, the potential Brunson move could fall through, leading to the Knicks searching for other answers.
Perhaps Westbrook or Wall could be the short-term solution as the team looks to return to the playoffs after missing out last year.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are going in the wrong direction after earning the Western Conference's No. 1 seed in the 2020-21 playoffs. That campaign ended with a six-game loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round.
Expectations were high yet again in 2021-22, and the team started 27-10. However, they finished 22-23 and lost in six games in the first round of the playoffs to a Dallas Mavericks side that was missing superstar Luka Doncic in Games 1 and 2.
Utah is officially entering a new era with a to-be-determined coach taking over for Quin Snyder, who stepped down after eight seasons. Running it back with the same roster probably isn't going to cut it, even if the Jazz have an All-Star duo to build around in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
Mike Conley Jr. has been a steady and solid contributor at the point for Utah amid an excellent 15-year NBA career, but Wall or Westbrook would provide a more explosive dynamic to the team as it searches for its first NBA Finals appearance since 1998.
Lakers Rumors: Scotty Pippen Jr. Agrees to Contract as UDFA After 2022 NBA Draft
Jun 24, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Scotty Pippen Jr. #2 of the Vanderbilt Commodores looks on during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the Quarterfinal game of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. Kentucky defeated Vanderbilt 77-71. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to a two-way contract after he went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, according to Bill Oram of The Athletic.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Scotty Pippen Jr.
Position: PG
Height: 6'0''
Pro Comparison: Chris Chiozza
Scouting Report: Lacking size and athleticism, Pippen compensates with unpredictable creativity and confidence that translate to playmaking and streaky shot-making.
The 21-year-old is the son of Chicago Bulls legend and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen.
In three years with the Commodores, Pippen averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals. He also shot 41.4 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc.
After making the SEC All-Freshman team in 2019-20, he was a first-team All-SEC honoree in each of the next two seasons. The 6'0" guard left Vanderbilt after finishing with the 10th-most assists (383) and ninth-most steals (144) at the program since 1987-88.
Pippen's height will do him few favors at the next level and likely limit his ceiling as a player. But he has the kind of skill set that can help him become a solid rotation guard in the NBA if his game continues to improve.
Lakers Rumors: Shaquille O'Neal's Son Shareef Agrees to Join Summer League Team
Jun 24, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 18: Shareef O'Neal #24 of the LSU Tigers looks on against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 18, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
After following in his father's footsteps by playing at LSU, Shareef O'Neal will reportedly start his NBA career by doing the same.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, O'Neal will play for the Los Angeles Lakers during NBA Summer League even though he wasn't selected during the 2022 NBA draft on Thursday.
The son of Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, his status for the draft wasn't initially clear. His name was inadvertently included on a list of players who withdrew from the event, but Charania reported on June 6 he was still eligible to be selected.
O'Neal originally began his college career at UCLA. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of Crossroads School in 2018, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
He spent two seasons with the Bruins from 2018-20. He missed his freshman season because of a heart issue that was discovered during a routine checkup by UCLA medical staff.
O'Neal appeared in 13 games during the 2019-20 season, averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds. He announced in Feb. 2020 he was transferring to LSU.
A foot injury limited the Los Angeles native to 24 games over two seasons with the Tigers, and he averaged 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game off the bench.
Despite being older than many of the prospects in this year's draft, O'Neal's experience level is on par with them because of how many games he missed in college because of injuries. He could still have more upside than a typical 22-year-old rookie that the Lakers will hope to coach out of him.
Max Christie Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Lakers Roster
Jun 24, 2022
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 18: Max Christie #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against Hyunjung Lee #1 of the Davidson Wildcats during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 18, 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Michigan State guard Max Christie with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Max Christie
Position: SG/SF
Height: 6'4"
Pro Comparison: Jeremy Lamb
Scouting Report: Though Christie struggled to make shots, high school and FIBA tape—plus a believable stroke—have teams willing to buy his long-term shooting development, At 6'4", he's a fundamentally sound wing who can hit jumpers off spot-ups, screens and pull-ups.
Christie averaged 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists during his freshman season in East Lansing. While he struggled for much of the season with his shooting stroke, knocking down only 38.2 percent of his shots from the field, he arrived as a 5-star prospect, per 247Sports, and one of the most highly touted recruits in Michigan State history.
The Lakers will likely bring Christie along slowly, perhaps sending him to the G League for much of his rookie season so he can work on his development. If he's able to fine-tune his game and get his shooting stroke back in rhythm—it was considered a strength before last season—Christie could be a steal.
Kyrie Irving Rumors: 'No Teams' Trying to Make Room for Star amid Lakers, Knicks Buzz
Jun 23, 2022
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) pauses during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
If Kyrie Irving is looking to opt out of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets to sign a big multiyear deal, then he might want to think twice.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Thursday on Get Up that "no teams [are] making moves right now to try to clear space to try to make a path to give Kyrie Irving a big contract."
Windhorst added that the New York Knicks' pursuit of a point guard is focused more on either trading up to land Purdue's Jaden Ivey or clearing salary-cap space to sign restricted free agent Jalen Brunson.
On Monday, The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported on the "impasse" between Irving and the Nets, with the Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers listed as potential suitors were he to leave Brooklyn.
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer followed up Tuesday and reported sides "still have ground to cover for both sides to emerge content on extension conversations." Whereas Irving wants a longer contract, the Nets prefer a short-term deal with incentives.
Windhorst explained Thursday how "Kyrie's intentions in looking elsewhere is really to apply pressure to the Nets, not that he wants to leave anywhere."
Coming off Brooklyn's first-round sweep to the Boston Celtics, the seven-time All-Star gave the impression he intended to return, though he sent similar signals before in what proved to be his final year with the Celtics.
The Nets don't have a ton of leverage because losing Irving in free agency or a sign-and-trade inevitably means getting worse. They don't have the cap space to sign another star, and trading Irving probably means taking 50 cents on the dollar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP2In5dZvEg
And if Irving were to go, it would have potentially significant consequences. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday that some teams are "rooting for Irving to opt out and walk away from the Nets, believing it would give them a chance to cobble together trade packages to acquire [Kevin] Durant."
The trouble for Irving is that he doesn't have a ton of leverage, either.
The 30-year-old's stock is as low as it's ever been. His decision not to get the COVID-19 vaccine limited him to 29 games in 2021-22, disrupted the Nets' season and furthered the perception he's somebody you can't depend on if he's supposed to be one of your top stars.
The limited number of franchises projected to have a lot of cap space doesn't help Irving.
From an outside general manager's perspective, there might be little appetite to make a series of trades—likely losing draft capital in the process—in order to give a massive contract to a player with Irving's recent track record. And the extent to which Irving actually wants to leave is unclear too, so all of those moves could be in vain.
As much as Charania and Fischer's reporting planted the seeds for a potentially messy divorce, the Irving saga could have a rather anticlimactic ending with him staying right where he is.
Anthony Davis Trade Rumors: Lakers Star Won't Be Moved Despite Offseason Buzz
Jun 21, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) is shown during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)
The Los Angeles Lakers are stuck between a rock and a hard place, but they reportedly aren't yet prepared to try something radical like trading Anthony Davis.
ESPN's Zach Lowe reported at the 1:15:11 mark on the newest episode of his podcast, "I've been told in no uncertain terms [Davis] is not getting traded."
Los Angeles' 2020 championship never happens if the team doesn't acquire Davis. During the title run, he averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor.
The last two seasons, however, have raised concerns about whether Davis can still be the centerpiece for a franchise with championship ambitions. He has logged only 76 appearances and failed to take the symbolic baton from LeBron James as L.A.'s No. 1 option.
Since the 2019-20 season, Davis is averaging 22.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 blocks. More concerning, the impressive shooting he displayed in the Walt Disney World Resort bubble hasn't carried over (22.9 percent on threes).
That production simply isn't good enough for a player with Davis' abilities.
The dilemma for the Lakers is that the eight-time All-Star is their best trade asset, yet there's probably no scenario in which they're better off in the short term by dealing him. Sure, they could replenish their draft capital, but exchanging a player as good as Davis for picks isn't going to fly as long as James is on the roster.
Plenty of other organizations around the NBA would obviously love to have Davis on their roster, so the last few years shouldn't skew his overall value.
But it seems clear Los Angeles has hit its ceiling while building around him and James. L.A. gave up a lot to get AD in the first place, and it sacrificed most of its remaining depth in the Russell Westbrook trade.
Now, the Lakers are a top-heavy squad leaning on one star who's beginning to show his age and another who struggles to stay healthy for a full season. That's not a winning combination.
Yet as bleak as the team's outlook is at the moment, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Davis is on the move this offseason.
Naomi Osaka Launching Media Company 'Hana Kuma' in Partnership with LeBron James
Jun 21, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 23: Naomi Osaka of Japan vs Amanda Anisimova of USA during the Women's Singles First Round match on Day 2 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 23, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images )
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is launching a media company in collaboration with SpringHill Company, the entertainment enterprise co-founded by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Osaka told the New York Times' Brooks Barnes she's looking to help create "scripted and unscripted television series, documentaries, anime and branded content" through her new venture, Hana Kuma.
"I honestly can’t say if I’ll personally be in anything right now," she said. "What excites me is being able to inspire people and tell new stories, particularly ones that I would have wanted to see when I was a kid. I always wanted to kind of see someone like me."
Hana Kuma is already planning to partner with the New York Times to produce a documentary on Patsy Mink, the first woman of color who was voted into Congress, through the Times' "Op-Doc" series.
Per Barnes, SpringHill will help finance and produce Hama Kuma's projects. Co-founder Maverick Carter told Barnes that Osaka "can just plug into what we have built."
This represents another avenue through which the four-time Grand Slam champion can expand her reach beyond tennis.
In May, Osaka left the sports agency IMG to start her own agency with Stuart Duguid, her agent at IMG. Evolve signed its first client Monday, Nick Kyrgios.
The challenge awaiting the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022 NBA offseason is astronomic. They must navigate around a tight financial crunch, a lack of draft...
