Russell Westbrook may very well be on the transfer this offseason after a disastrous debut season with the Lakers.
The Hornets are a “staff to observe” as a commerce vacation spot for the previous league MVP, in response to NBA insider Mark Stein.
Westbrook — who's the highest-paid participant on L.A.’s roster, incomes $44 million — has a $47 million participant possibility for the 2022-23 season, which might make it troublesome for groups to pursue him.
Stein additionally reported that the Lakers haven’t dominated out waiving Westbrook, which might tie them to a long-term payout of the cash he’s owed.
Westbrook can also be coming off one the worst offensive seasons of his profession, averaging 18.5 factors per sport — his lowest since his second season within the league in 2009-10. His exterior taking pictures struggles earned him the title “Westbrick” by followers.
After the Suns beat the Lakers 121-110 Tuesday to eradicate L.A. from playoff competition, Westbrook stated he expects to stay with the staff.
“I imply, that’s the plan,” Westbrook stated about returning subsequent season to complete the final yr on his Lakers contract. “However nothing is promised. Sure, we wish to have the ability to see what that appears like, what that entails over the course of an 82-game season. However we’re undecided if that’s assured, both. So I simply hope that we have now an opportunity to have the ability to do one thing.”
His feedback got here a day after Lakers nice Magic Johnson expressed disappointment in his former staff for selecting a Westbrook experiment over signing Bulls star DeMar DeRozan.
The Lakers acquired Westbrook final summer time in hopes of forming a Large 3 with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, however accidents restricted them to simply 21 video games collectively. He was recruited by James as a part of a rebuilt roster that couldn’t discover a strategy to keep wholesome and jell.
A change of surroundings may very well be good for Westbrook, who’s felt the pressures of being a Laker in his first season with the staff. He confronted hecklers this season, in addition to reporters that questioned L.A.’s incapability to win video games.
Westbrook might add depth and a veteran presence to the Hornets, who've a younger expertise in level guard LaMelo Ball, in addition to Terry Rozier.
Charlotte at present has a number of gamers on long-term contracts, together with Rozier’s four-year, $97 million extension. Gordon Hayward has two years remaining on his four-year, $120 million deal.
Hornets proprietor Michael Jordan has been fairly keen on Westbrook by means of the years. Westbrook signed a five-year endorsement take care of Nike’s Jordan Model in 2013 — and after his MVP season in 2016-17, he reached a 10-year extension with the model.
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