The Los Angeles Lakers traded Russell Westbrook final week after a disastrous season-and-half lengthy marriage.
By the tip of their relationship, issues between L.A. and Westbrook had deteriorated a lot that the teaching workers reportedly needed to simply ship him residence.
Happily, by some miracle, Rob Pelinka and Co. had been in a position to orchestrate a three-team deal that noticed Westbrook shipped off to the Utah Jazz.
Pelinka was fairly open about why the felt the necessity to make the drastic transfer that he did.
This week, Lakers star LeBron James despatched one closing message to Westbrook and the remainder of the gamers that had been dealt away on the NBA Commerce Deadline.
“To begin with, I shout out and salute the blokes that left, Russ, Pat, JTA,” James stated.
“Additionally, DJ and Thomas. These 5 guys. All of us began the season collectively and tried to work to make some issues occur and be the perfect that we might be out on the ground. So I salute these guys and their dedication to us attempting to be nearly as good as we might be on the ground. And proper now, I imply, I like the blokes that we now have coming in.
“I imply, it’s going to take a while for us to get to know each other, however I do know that they play the sport at a excessive stage.”
Clearly based mostly on that James gained’t miss Westbrook an excessive amount of, which is sensible given the awkwardness that has existed between the pair.
Westbrook’s subsequent transfer may be very up within the air proper now. There are three groups fascinated with signing him after he will get purchased out by the Jazz, with one clear frontrunner.
The video speaks for itself. https://t.co/MQazX16Iw9
— Recreation 7 (@game7__) February 18, 2023
If he goes on to have extra success with somebody aside from the Lakers, James and Co. could have numerous pie on their face over how that relationship went.
Ought to Westbrook battle together with his subsequent squad as properly, the Lakers will likely be considerably vindicated.
What does the longer term maintain for James and Westbrook? A solution by hook or by crook will emerge instantly after the All-Star Break.
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