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“Russell Westbrook to join forces with LeBron James?” Wizards MVP stirs up Lakers rumors by following Rich Paul and Bryce James on Instagram

Samir Mehdi
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“Russell Westbrook to join forces with LeBron James?” Wizards MVP stirs up Lakers rumors by following Rich Paul and Bryce James on Instagram

Russell Westbrook looks to stir up some rumors of him joining the Lakers as he follows both Bryce James and Rich Paul on Instagram. 

With the 2021 offseason well underway, the NBA trade rumor mill has been working nonstop to churn out new scenarios revolving superstars around the league. The ‘big fish’ this offseason are, of course, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal. Both have been on the fence about leaving their small market teams but Russell Westbrook looks like another name that could enter this conversation. 

With rumors surrounding Beal potentially asking for a trade before the 2021 NBA Draft, the Wizards need to prepare for both of their superstars asking out. More so than Russell Westbrook asking out, if Brad Beal were to leave DC, then the Wizards would try to package Russ into a deal as well to go all in on a rebuild.

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Potential suitors for Russell Westbrook have been scarce due to the nature of his contract but one team that’s popped up in darn near all rumors this offseason has been the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Russell Westbrook may look to join the Lakers after following Bryce James and Rich Paul on Instagram. 

NBA superstars aren’t all too open with the media in regards to their future plans with a team. Damian Lillard, in the most roundabout way, let Neil Olshey and the Blazers know that he would leave Portland if they didn’t contend for a championship in 2021-22. Bradley Beal has been iffy on his decision stay a Wizard for quite some time as well with no clarity.

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Russell Westbrook has been quiet on his particular situation but some eagle-eyed NBA fans have pointed out that he just followed both Bryce James and Rich Paul on Instagram. Bryce, of course, is LeBron James’s second oldest son and Rich Paul is the CEO of KlutchSports/LeBron’s agent. 

James and Russell Westbrook are quite close as the two have hung out during several offseason, with the latter even participating in LeBron’s infamous ‘Taco Tuesday’. The Lakers have little to no trade assets that would entice a team into giving up an All-NBA caliber player and so a superstar like Westbrook making his way to Los Angeles seems unlikely. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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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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