Kobe and Gianna Bryant Statue Placed at Site of Crash on Anniversary of Deaths
Jan 27, 2022
A statue to honor former Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, in Calabasas, Calif. The statue was carried by the artist, Dan Medina, on a trail near where Bryant, his daughter, and seven other people died in a helicopter crash two years ago Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A local sculptor placed a statue of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at the site of the helicopter crash that killed them and seven others in Calabasas, California.
A bronze sculpture of basketball great Kobe Bryant & daughter, Gigi, was erected temporarily at the Calabasas crash site on the 2nd anniversary of the disaster that also claimed the lives of 7 others. Sculptor Dan Medina pulled the 150-lbs sculpture up a steep hill. #girldadpic.twitter.com/L8ln4OtZSq
According to Richard Winton of the Los Angeles Times, the artwork went up Wednesday on the two-year anniversary of the fatal crash.
Dan Medina, who created the piece, told Winton he only envisions the memorial remaining there temporarily. He transported the 150-pound statue to its current home by himself.
"You come up here and it is kind of emotional," he said. "The flowers, the jerseys, the hats blow away, and I think we need something more permanent."
Kobe and Gianna Bryant and six others (Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli and Christina Mauser) were traveling to Mamba Sports Academy when the helicopter went down in a Calabasas hillside, killing the eight passengers and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Lakers Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Russell Westbrook, John Wall Talks
Jan 26, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers' Russell Westbrook (0) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 in New York. The Lakers won 106-96. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been disappointing this season, but they reportedly don't want to lose one of their future assets in an effort to shake things up.
Insider Marc Stein (h/t RealGM) reported the Lakers do not want to include their 2027 first-round pick in a hypothetical trade that would send Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for John Wall.
Moving Westbrook would also signal that the team sees the trade with the Washington Wizards that happened this past offseason as something of a failure.
Los Angeles sent Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and a first-round pick to the Wizards for Westbrook and two future second-round picks. Trading the point guard before he even reaches the All-Star break of his first season with the team would be quite the development, especially since there is no guarantee that Wall will be an upgrade.
After all, Wall hasn't played a game since April and hasn't played more than 41 games in a season since the 2016-17 campaign. He also missed the entire 2019-20 season.
There was a time when the University of Kentucky product was one of the best point guards in the league as a five-time All-Star who could blow past defenders in transition and carry the Wizards on his back for stretches, but injuries may have sapped much of that explosiveness.
For all the concerns about Westbrook's poor outside shooting, turnovers and fit alongside LeBron James, he has at least been durable throughout much of his career and is a triple-double threat every time he steps on the court.
Still, Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated recently reported on The Hoop Collective podcast (23:00 mark) that Westbrook was the only "realistic" target for the Rockets if they were going to trade Wall:
I was told that they have a couple on the table, several on the table, but the only one that's really has some, you know, realistic potential to it is with the Lakers for Russ. They actually make, I don't know if it's nearly to the same dollar, but a similar salary, so you can trade them one-for-one without including anybody else. That 2027 Laker pick that you mentioned before, that first-round pick, seems to be pretty coveted, and I would expect it to be included in such a deal. But John's in Miami. He's been working out. He actually asked the Rockets for permission to be in Miami so he could be near his kids and focus on working out.
The Lakers apparently don't want to include that future first-round pick, which would give Westbrook more time to adjust to his new role as the Purple and Gold look to build on Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets and turn things around before the playoffs.
Lakers Rumors: Stanley Johnson Agrees to New 2-Year Contract After 10-Day Deals
Jan 26, 2022
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 23: Stanley Johnson #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during a game against the Miami Heat on January 23, 2022 at The FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers and forward Stanley Johnson reportedly agreed to a two-year contract Wednesday.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the two sides came to an agreement as Johnson's third 10-day contract was set to expire. Terms of the deal were not made available.
Signed to a hardship exemption contract amid the Lakers' issues with COVID-19 in December, Johnson quickly carved out an integral role in the rotation. The 2015 first-round pick is averaging 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing solid defense on the perimeter.
While he never emerged as the star the Detroit Pistons hoped he would be when they picked him at No. 8, Johnson seems to have found a niche after a stint with the Toronto Raptors over the previous two seasons.
The Los Angeles native said the comfort of playing near home has perhaps made him comfortable with the Lakers.
"I pray a lot, and I'm really confident in my work ethic,” Johnson told reporters last week. "I can say a million things, but it is what it is. It's going to be what it's going to be.
"I'm from here, so I'm a lot more comfortable here than probably a lot of other places. Maybe that's it. Maybe it's some home cooking.
"But outside of that, I just pray and let it fly."
Jerry West Reflects on Deaths of Lakers Legends Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor
Jan 26, 2022
LO SANGELES, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 3, 2010Lakers Kobe Bryant shakes hands with Jerry West during a ceremony at half court to honor Kobe's record for most points by a Laker at the Staples Center Wednesday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Two years after the deaths of Kobe Bryant and Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West is reflecting on what both men meant to him.
Speaking to Tania Ganguli of the New York Times, West said Baylor's death was "unbelievably hurtful."
"I just was like a baby, I guess. Couldn’t believe it," he added. "As much as I appreciated him, I didn’t realize the depth of it until the first day. I really did not. It was like—I lost my best friend. I lost someone who meant more to me than just a basketball player. For three days I might be doing something—I might be hitting golf balls or chipping golf balls or putting golf balls—and honestly, I would just have to stop."
West and Baylor were teammates with the Lakers from 1960 to 1972. They reached seven NBA Finals during that span but never won a title together. The Lakers did win the championship during the 1971-72 season, but Baylor retired nine games into the regular season because of ongoing knee problems.
Baylor died at the age of 86 on March 22, 2021.
Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of Bryant's death at the age of 41. He was among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
"I’ve often wondered if he had lived to, say, Elgin Baylor’s age, or even my age, would people look at him the same way? I’m not sure they would," West said upon thinking about Bryant's death. "Just the shock and sadness of seeing this very young man’s life taken seemed impossible."
West played a significant role in bringing Bryant to Los Angeles in the 1996 NBA draft. He was the team's general manager from 1982 to 2000.
In a March 2021 article by ESPN's Dave Fleming, West recalled what it was like watching Bryant during a pre-draft workout that convinced him the Lakers needed to find a way to get him to Los Angeles.
"You watch a workout like that—there isn't much of a choice to think of anything else. I remember saying to Jerry Buss, our owner, I said, 'Jerry, he's the best player in the draft.' I meant it. I would have taken Kobe as the first player in the draft. It was a no-brainer. He had this—forget desire—he just didn't want to stop playing. Ever," West recalled.
West told Ganguli that Bryant "was just one of those unique players that comes along."
Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers from 1996 to 2016. He was named to 18 All-Star rosters, won five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVP awards and the 2007-08 NBA MVP.
The Lakers retired Bryant's No. 8 and 24 in December 2017. He was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class, along with fellow players Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Tamika Catchings.
LeBron James on Hot Streak: 'Nothing Else Matters Besides What I Bring to the Table'
Jan 26, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (6) gestures to fans after dunking the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 in New York. The Lakers won 106-96. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LeBron James has been on an absolute tear of late, entering Tuesday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets averaging 32.5 points on 53.4 percent shooting over the last 17 games.
He continued that torrid pace by dropping 33 points on 14-of-21 shooting in a 106-96 win.
After the Nets game, James talked with ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth (h/t ESPN's Dave McMenamin) about his hot streak and focus amid the team's up-and-down season:
Interesting answer from LeBron James when asked by @CassidyHubbarth if the scoring run he’s been on was in direct response to the challenges of the Lakers’ season: pic.twitter.com/mGqnjMS0Kg
The Lakers entered this season with championship aspirations behind a new big three of James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, but the team sits just 24-24, only good enough for a seventh-place tie in the Western Conference with the Minnesota Timberwolves at .500.
However, James' Herculean performances have kept the team's season from completely torpedoing, and now they are in position to make a second-half run with the Tuesday return of AD after he missed 17 games with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
Westbrook, the nine-time All-Star who has struggled offensively this season, also appears to be rounding into far better form after shooting 24-of-46 (52.2 percent) from the field over his last three games.
Ultimately, James has shouldered a heavy burden this season, but that may not be the case as much down the stretch if Davis stays healthy and Westbrook's recent good run continues into the campaign's final months.
For now, the Lakers will look to move back over .500 when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
Russell Westbrook Says Lakers 'Definitely Different' With Healthy Anthony Davis
Jan 26, 2022
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 25: Russell Westbrook #0 hi-fives Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 25, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis made his return from a 17-game absence in Tuesday's victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite scoring just eight points, Davis' presence on the floor was a welcome sight for his teammates.
"It’s definitely different with his presence out there," Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook said of Davis after the game.
Davis played 25 minutes in the Lakers' 106-96 win at the Barclays Center. He shot 3-of-8 from the floor but made his presence felt on the defensive end with four blocks. He added two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Davis showed no ill effects from the sprained MCL that kept him out since Dec. 17. The Lakers ran the first play of the game for him, and he finished a huge dunk off an alley-oop.
Davis was averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in 27 games prior to his injury. The Lakers hope he will be able to return to his old form sooner rather than later.
Los Angeles was led by star forward LeBron James in Tuesday's victory. He scored 33 points for the second straight game and added seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. It was his seventh 30-point game in the month of January.
Malik Monk added 22 points off the bench on 6-of-12 shooting from three-point range. Westbrook finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Lakers (24-24) will be back in action Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers. With a day of rest in between games, Davis is likely to be available for the matchup, but he might still be on a minutes restriction.
LeBron James Drops 33 as Lakers Beat James Harden, Nets in Anthony Davis' Return
Jan 26, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (6) calls out to a teammate during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from Sunday's disappointing loss to the Miami Heat with a 106-96 win over the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Tuesday. LeBron James led the way with 33 points as Los Angeles got back to .500 at 24-24.
Lakers big man Anthony Davis, who was listed as probable for Tuesday's game, had eight points and four blocks in 25 minutes. Davis had missed the previous 17 games while working his way back from a sprained MCL.
The Nets fell to 29-18 after their second straight loss. James Harden had his second triple-double in three games with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
Brooklyn is also now 12-12 on its home floor. The team was without point guard Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated and unable to play in home games because of New York City's vaccine mandates. The Nets were also missing star forward Kevin Durant, who remains out with a sprained MCL.
Notable Stats
F LeBron James, LAL: 33 points, 7 rebounds
G Malik Monk, LAL: 22 points (off bench)
G Russell Westbrook, LAL: 15 points
F Anthony Davis: 8 points (3-of-8 FG), 4 blocks in 25 minutes
G James Harden, BKN: 33 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists
Lakers' Uptempo Offense Leads to Victory
Los Angeles had a clear gameplan on offense on Tuesday, and it was to attack early and often. The Lakers were able to set a high pace and create easy scoring opportunities in transition.
With James leading the charge, Los Angeles pushed the ball off both makes and misses by the Nets. The Lakers didn't waste much time and got shots up early in the shot clock.
Los Angeles shot 53.3 percent from the field and had 20 fast break points in the first half. The lakers led by as many as 14 and took a nine-point lead into the break. Monk was a spark off the bench with 16 of his 22 points before halftime.
The Lakers continued to shoot at a high clip in the third quarter. After the Nets cut the deficit to two points, Los Angeles ended the quarter with a 21-9 run to maintain its double-digit lead.
Nice finish in transition from Westbrook, who got Aldridge leaning and exploded the other way.
LAL are back up 10 late in the 3rd as Westbrook (11 points) joins Monk (19) and LeBron (27) in double figures.
Brooklyn cut the deficit to no closer than nine points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers were able to put the game away.
The Lakers played aggressively from start to finish, an effort that they hadn't shown in some of their recent losses. Los Angeles has been mired by inconsistent play on both ends of the floor throughout the season. Tuesday's game showed that the team can compete with the best when it puts forth great energy for a full 48 minutes.
The Lakers should use Tuesday's game as a blueprint for the remainder of the year. If Los Angeles can continue to play like this going forward, the team could be in line for a late-season surge.
Harden Can't Do It All for Brooklyn
Since the Nets were without both Durant and Irving, it's no surprise that Harden had to shoulder most of the offensive load for Brooklyn. While he was able to have success scoring and creating for his teammates, it was apparent early on that he didn't have enough help to keep pace with the Lakers.
Harden had 16 points in the first quarter. He finished with 22 of the Nets' 53 first-half points and added seven rebounds and five assists. But the rest of the team struggled to get going.
Harden has 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. The rest of the #Nets have seven on 3-of-12, and they only lead by a point. Hard to see this as sustainable.
Harden did his best to keep fighting in the second half. He was able to help the Nets cut the lead to 71-69 early in the third quarter, but Los Angeles managed to pull away.
A game in which he had to carry the team on his back came at an interesting time for Harden. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported earlier Tuesday that Harden was open to exploring opportunities in free agency this offseason. Fischer also stated that Harden has grown frustrated with Irving's status as a part-time player.
It's clear that Brooklyn is not a team constructed to play with just one of their superstars on the floor. The Nets supporting players are not able to create for themselves. Patty Mills was the second-leading scorer with 15 points and DeAndre' Bembry added 12.
Nationally, I don’t think people have caught up to how poor the Nets supporting cast is with KD, Kyrie, & Joe Harris out. Not only with talent, but with offensive skill.
Patty Mills is the lone shooter next to James Harden. Cam Thomas, a rookie, is the only other creator.
While Durant is out, the Nets will continue to struggle unless some of their role players can relieve some of the offensive burden off of Harden. Brooklyn is expected to be a team that competes for an NBA title when fully healthy, but until that time it will not be an easy road.
What's Next?
The Lakers will continue their Eastern Conference road trip on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets will try to avoid a three-game losing streak on Wednesday when the Denver Nuggets come to town.
Report: Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis Talk to Russell Westbrook About Struggles
Jan 25, 2022
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 23: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers react against the Miami Heat during the first half at FTX Arena on January 23, 2022 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are among several key members of the Los Angeles Lakers organization trying to help Russell Westbrook overcome his season-long struggles.
Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, James and Davis speak to Westbrook "regularly" to make sure he's comfortable and in a position to have success on the court.
Shelburne also noted Lakers head coach Frank Vogel has "met individually with Westbrook several times throughout the season to try to find ways to help him feel more comfortable and succeed on the court" in his first season with the Lakers.
Things with Westbrook came to a head in L.A.'s Jan. 19 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Vogel benched the nine-time All-Star for the final 3:52 of the fourth quarter.
Westbrook told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski he was "surprised" by the decision, but he remains focused on trying to "figure s--t out and do what's best for our team to win in the long run."
Vogel told reporters after the game he was "playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game."
Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Lakers management "has told the coaching staff to coach Westbrook as the coaches see fit" in behind-the-scenes discussions that had been taking place for more than a week.
During the offseason, there were rumblings that the Lakers were pursuing a deal with the Sacramento Kings involving Buddy Hield.
Per Bill Oram, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick of The Athletic, talks even got to a point where Kings management wound up "steaming" mad after the Lakers decided to back off once they learned they might have a chance to get Westbrook from the Washington Wizards.
The Lakers ultimately sent Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Isaiah Todd's draft rights to Washington for Westbrook.
According to Oram, Charania and Amick, the Lakers opted to acquire Westbrook because they believed he would make "them a more dangerous team in the postseason."
As things currently stand, the Lakers are in a fight to even make the playoffs. They are the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 23-24 record. They rank in the bottom half of the league in offensive and defensive rating, per Basketball Reference.
Westbrook is on pace to have his lowest scoring average (18.6 points per game) since 2009-10. He's only shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range.
Lakers Rumors: 'No One' Thinks Firing Frank Vogel Would 'Dramatically' Change Results
Jan 25, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel might still have a job because the team believes firing him would be an exercise in futility.
The Lakers are eighth in the Western Conference at 23-24, which has left them scrambling for solutions about how to turn things around. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Los Angeles isn't prepared to jettison Vogel in part because "no one believes changing the coach will yield dramatically different results."
On Jan. 18, The Athletic's Bill Oram and Sam Amick reported the coach's job was in "serious jeopardy" and that he was "being evaluated on a game-to-game basis and is at risk of being fired if progress doesn’t continue."
However, the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike reported L.A. had "no current plans" to make a coaching change.
At the time of The Athletic's report, the Lakers were coming off a 101-95 victory over the Utah Jazz. Since then, they've dropped two of their last three games.
Another LeBron James-led team fired its head coach midway through the season, and the move couldn't have gone any better. The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers looked listless under David Blatt, and replacing him with Tyronn Lue was a key ingredient in their championship run.
In that case, James was part of a squad that was clearly playing below its potential. The Cavs weren't getting it done under Blatt.
The 2021-22 Lakers, on the other hand, might simply be a flawed, middling outfit, especially with Anthony Davis out injured.
Davis' sprained MCL would make things tough for Los Angeles under the best of circumstances. He hasn't stepped onto the court since a 110-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 17, and the Lakers are 7-10 over that span.
But Davis' absence has exacerbated an even bigger problem: The Russell Westbrook trade is shaping up to be a colossal mistake.
Through 47 games, Westbrook is averaging 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.8 assists. He's shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 29.6 from beyond the arc. The concerns about how the 33-year-old would fare as he slowly lost some of his exceptional physical tools have been well founded.
Vogel even benched Westbrook toward the end of a 111-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
One source summed up the Lakers' predicament to Shelburne by saying, "There is no light at the end of the tunnel."
Another source alluded to Westbrook's $44.2 million salary for this season and $47.1 million player option for 2022-23 and said making it work with him, James and Davis is "the only option."
One could justify the idea of firing Vogel by arguing it's the only real gambit general manager Rob Pelinka has left.
Talen Horton-Tucker is averaging 10.5 points but shooting 25.3 percent from the perimeter. If Los Angeles was hoping the 21-year-old would serve as an attractive trade asset for a big midseason deal, then that isn't coming to fruition.
The Westbrook trade appears to have been Pelinka's last chance to drastically alter the roster. Assuming Pelinka won't fire himself, his last bet might be the idea a new coach with new ideas can change the Lakers' trajectory.
Unless that coach can make Westbrook four years younger and Davis more durable, Los Angeles will still probably end up spinning its wheels in the middle of the West.
NBA Rumors: Lakers' Russell Westbrook Only 'Realistic' Trade for Rockets' John Wall
Jan 25, 2022
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on January 23, 2022 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell
Westbrook is reportedly the only "realistic" target for the
Houston Rockets if they want to move guard John Wall before the 2022
NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10.
Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated
reported the update Tuesday on The Hoop Collective podcast (23-minute
mark):
I was told that they have a
couple on the table, several on the table, but the only one that's
really has some, you know, realistic potential to it is with the
Lakers for Russ. They actually make, I don't know if it's nearly to
the same dollar, but a similar salary, so you can trade them
one-for-one without including anybody else. That 2027 Laker pick that
you mentioned before, that first-round pick, seems to be pretty
coveted, and I would expect it to be included in such a deal. But
John's in Miami. He's been working out. He actually asked the Rockets
for permission to be in Miami so he could be near his kids and focus
on working out.
Spears added that there are other options on
the table for the Rockets but said they are long shots in terms of getting a deal done. He also noted it's
unclear whether Westbrook would accept a lesser role in Houston if a
blockbuster swap is made:
I've basically have heard that
there's a couple other possibilities, but they're more pie-in-the-sky
possibilities, and it's not out of the realm of possibility for this
one to happen. To me, I think that as of today, this is the only
trade for John Wall. If it happens, and Westbrook does come back, the
Rockets get somebody that at least they know. So, I was told that
they would be open-minded, as crazy as this may sound, for him to
play with this team, but it would be under the same circumstances
that they asked Wall to do where it would probably be coming off the
bench. So, would Russell Westbrook want to come off the bench for the
Rockets? I think he loves playing, loves basketball and would get
minutes. It just would be an off-the-bench thing that he's never done
in maybe his whole life. I don't know if maybe he did that at UCLA.
But if not and they make that acquisition, then perhaps they do the
same thing they're doing with Wall where he just stays in L.A. and
works out and they try to figure something out in the offseason.
Wall has yet to play for the Rockets
during the 2021-22 season while awaiting a potential trade.
In November, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski
reported there were discussions about the five-time All-Star possibly
joining the team's rotation, but the sides were at odds about
the type of role he would play upon his return, with the team preferring
to remain focused on the future and giving its young core the lion's share of the minutes.
The veteran guard has more recently been in "constant
communication" with the front office while in Miami "working on
his conditioning and ramping up workouts" in case a trade is worked out,
per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
Wall played well for the Rockets last
season after being acquired from the Washington Wizards, fittingly in
a deal that also featured Westbrook. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.9
assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 40 appearances.
Trading him has proved difficult,
however, in large part because of the two seasons left on his
lucrative four-year, $171 million contract, which includes a $47.4 million player
option for next season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers acquired
Westbrook from the Wizards as part of an offseason roster overhaul
that hasn't delivered the desired results. Los Angeles owns a 23-24
record and has yet to look like a title contender for any
extended stretch of time.
Superstar forward Anthony Davis is nearing a return from
a knee injury, which will move L.A. closer to its desired rotation
and give the front office a couple weeks to assess the situation with Westbrook, Davis and LeBron James in the lineup before the deadline.
If the Lakers continue to hover around
.500, it's fair to wonder whether they would at least consider a
Westbrook-for-Wall swap in search of a spark for the season's second
half.
Should that idea not come fruition, it
sounds like the Rockets may have to wait until the summer to see
whether they can find a taker for the final year of Wall's contract.
