After a disastrous first year as a Laker, it seems that Russell Westbrook now wants out of L.A.
An ESPN report on Friday indicated that Westbrook, 33, “parted ways” with longtime agent Thad Foucher after 14 years over “irreconcilable differences” about staying another season with the Lakers – and Westbrook appears to be the one who wants to move on.
While the Lakers and Westbrook have publicly messaged for the last month that they have plans for another run together, privately, the Lakers are well-known to have interest in trading for Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving among other possible targets. Last season, the Lakers were Vegas odds favorites to reach the NBA Finals; instead, they finished 33-49 and out of the playoffs while often being jeered by their own fans.
While Westbrook attended the introduction of new head coach Darvin Ham in June in a show of support, the report indicates that relations have broken down enough between Westbrook and the Lakers that he was willing to part ways with Foucher. The agent offered a statement to ESPN that he believed “(Westbrook’s) best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham has publicly offered.”
There was evidence of strain a week ago, when Westbrook attended one of the Lakers’ Summer League games in Las Vegas and sat near the team bench, but did not approach or seem to publicly acknowledge teammate LeBron James in any way. James did not approach Westbrook either, and the two teammates left the game at different times through opposing entrances in Thomas & Mack Arena. This incident came on the heels of widespread reports that James is interested in a reunion with Irving, with whom he won a title with Cleveland in 2016.
The subtext of the chilly scene seemed clear: Several people within the Lakers organization acknowledged it was an awkward and tense moment between its two most high-profile superstars, sources told Southern California News Group.
Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists last season while shooting 44.4% from the floor. While he was the most available of the team’s three superstars including James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook struggled through weeks-long shooting slumps and had one of the highest turnover percentages (17.3%) in the NBA. When he was on the court, the Lakers were outscored by a total of 211 points in his minutes.
Not long before trade rumors heated up in late June, Ham and General Manager Rob Pelinka had heralded Westbrook’s communication and pledges to sacrifice in the upcoming season. Both referenced numerous one-on-one conversations in which Westbrook promised to play more efficiently on defense and off the ball in an effort to help turn around the Lakers’ results.
“Don’t get it messed up: Russell is one of the best players our league has ever seen,” Ham said at his introduction, “and there is still a ton left in that tank.”
But Westbrook and the Lakers have had a rocky relationship for some time, dating to January when then-head coach Frank Vogel benched Westbrook in a close game, and it was later revealed that he had been sanctioned by management. Tension increased near the trade deadline, when Westbrook sat out a game the night before it passed – the Lakers ended up standing pat.
Westbrook let loose during his end-of-season exit interview, criticizing Vogel (who was fired) and acknowledging he had an uncomfortable relationship with the fans in his own hometown. Said the Leuzinger High and UCLA product: “I just felt that I never was given a fair chance just to be who I needed to be to help this team.”
The report likely puts additional pressure on the Lakers to deal Westbrook before the beginning of the season. The biggest hurdle to any trade is the size of his contract: Westbrook exercised a $47.1 million option at the end of last month, making it challenging for teams to match his salary, or even accommodate him into their payroll. The Lakers have also been reluctant to include draft picks in deals, with only their 2027 and 2029 selections available for trades.
Getting traded is now a familiar game for Westbrook. He has played for four teams (Oklahoma City, Houston, Washington previously) in the past four seasons after starting his career as a first-round pick of the Thunder. He was the MVP for the 2016-17 season after averaging a triple-double and became the league’s all-time triple-double leader in 2021.
Not averaging a triple-double seemed to be a sticking point this past season with Westbrook: “Obviously I’m coming off averaging a triple-double. So anything less than that would not be a good season for me in my eyes, you know what I’m saying?
In the statement provided to ESPN, Foucher celebrated his achievements with Westbrook (including the supermax contract which ends in 2023). But he also lamented that his star client might be dealt again in less-than-ideal circumstances.
“Now with the possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario,” he wrote. “And even then, such a trade may require Russel to immediately move on from the new team via buyout. My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value.”
For Westbrook and the Lakers, that day might be on its way.
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