Hours after the release of a story revealing how close he came to being traded to the Pacers, Russell Westbrook was in the Lakers starting lineup Monday night for their preseason opener, writes Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. Woike confirms that the team has been considering trades for the embattled guard all summer, but it’s not willing to part with unprotected first-round picks in both 2027 and 2029.
Speaking after Monday’s game, Westbrook sounded ready to accept his future, whether it’s with the Lakers or another team.
“I’m super blessed and thankful for what I have and what I’ve been given,” he said. “I’ve got an unbelievable support system, family, leaning on my faith. Everything else will take care of itself. So, all summer, my whole life, I’ve been hearing the stories about myself. That’s not going to change today. So, nothing new for me. I’m going to continue to keep my head down, focus on competing. And everything else will take care of itself.”
Amid the offseason trade talks, the Lakers have been publicly supportive of Westbrook as he enters his second season with the organization. New head coach Darvin Ham said Westbrook has been doing everything he’s asked to in practice, including finding ways to contribute without the ball in his hands.
“Any outside noise, that’s par for the course,” Ham said. “I mean, it comes with the business. But he’s a Los Angeles Laker, the last time I checked. And I’m really not mad at that. And he showed tonight, like, he’s gonna thrive in this system.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!