“Russell Westbrook Has Finally Left LeBron James!”: Lakers Fans Rejoice As Rob Pelinka Trades Russ For D’Angelo Russell And More

Samir Mehdi | 09/02/2023
“Russell Westbrook Has Finally Left LeBron James!”: Lakers Fans Rejoice As Rob Pelinka Trades Russ For D’Angelo Russell And More

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder last night in a game that wasn’t really about winning. It was about LeBron James passing up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time regular season scoring list. He dropped 38 points to accomplish this feat but when you zoom out, the purple and gold needed that win. 

As the 13th seed in the Western Conference with less than 30 games to go in the season, the Lakers need to rack up wins. Well, Rob Pelinka seems to have done exactly what the team needs in order for them to be competitive out West. 

The Lakers have finalized a 3-team trade that would send Russell Westbrook and a lightly protected first round pick to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz in turn are sending Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley to the Lakers and Mike Conley to the Timberwolves. The big name that’s going to the purple and gold however, is D’Angelo Russell.

Also read: “LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have one thing in common!”: Skip Bayless Delivers ‘Rare’ Praise for The King as he Becomes NBA’s All-Time Scoring Leader

Lakers fans react to Russell Westbrook trade 

When it was announced that Russell Westbrook would be a Los Angeles Lakers player in 2021, it felt as though LA had gotten their own superstar big-3. Graphics were being made about how they were already a lock for the NBA Finals. 

However, this didn’t work out all too well due to a litany of injuries and the glaring problem of not having a roster that meshed well with one another. Russell Westbrook was often berated for his lackluster play for the purple and gold and with him gone, fans of the team have taken to social media to express themselves.

Of course, there were tons of other problems that the Lakers had that led to them barreling down the standings for two straight years but the blame unfortunately always seemed to be placed on Westbrook. Credit to him though for always being a professional through all the hubbub and scrutiny. 

What’s next for Russell Westbrook? 

The Utah Jazz weren’t trying to win this 2022-23 NBA season. They wanted a bottom tier record similar to that of the Pistons or the Rockets, hence them trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. However, with all the assets they accumulated, they made a roster that actually fit well next to one another. 

The Jazz even got themselves an All-Star in Lauri Markkanen. So, with Rusell Westbrook making it on the team in exchange for 3 essential pieces in Conley, Vanderbilt, and Beasley, the team will certainly start to lose more games. 

As for Russ, he may very well get bought out of his contract given that he’s on an expiring contract. The market for the Jordan athlete looks to be dry however, so it’ll be interesting to see what teams are interested in signing him for a reasonable contract.

Also read: “Bronny and Bryce Will Be 2 & 3!”: LeBron James Gets Heartwarming Response From Sons After Breaking Scoring Record

Post Edited By: Samir Mehdi
Lakers LeBron James Russell Westbrook

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Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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