What the Westbrook trade means for Lebron and the LA Lakers

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 WHAT THE WESTRBOOK TRADE MEANS 
FOR LEBRON AND THE LA LAKERS

Fox News




On draft night, just around the third overall pick, Lakers fans and the NBA world blew up as the Los Angeles Lakers completed a deal to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and a pick.  The immediate reaction across the NBA community was that Westbrook could not fit with Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Despite the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks shooting 32 percent from three in the playoffs and the 2020 NBA Champion Lakers were not the best 3 point shooting team to begin with either at 35  percent, per StatMuse. Still, at least during the regular season spacing concerns are warranted. But on the more optimistic sides of things what needs to be talked about more is what getting Westbrook means for 37 year old Lebron James and Anthony Davis. 


David Richard, USA Today Sports

LEBRON GETS MORE REST


Lebron James entering year nineteen will be turning thirty-seven years old in December during the season. With back to back injuries to his groin and ankle the past two seasons it is best to keep Lebron's 'load' on the team as little as possible. Lebron over the past few seasons has evolved his game expectedly as he continues to go up in age. These past two seasons were his lowest at going to the line at only 5.7 attempts. His three point attempts have also been at a career high with 6.3 a game.  Not being known much for a shooter it obviously is less work to take a pull up three pointer than drive to the lane constantly and draw so much contact. Nonetheless, Lebron is still obviously one of the greatest players in the league at age 37. But if you can take the playmaking load off Lebron when he is off the court, you do so. The notion with the Lakers the past two seasons was the non-Lebron Laker minutes during games were very difficult at times playmaking wise and talent wise. An aging Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso did all they could do during their tenure with LA, but it will not be close to what Russell Westbrook can do while running the second unit with the LA Lakers. Lebron will not have to playmake as much as Westrbook is an elite playmaker. Russ runs the transition and the drive-and-kick game very similar to Lebron. Westbrook will also have a new dueling mate in Anthony Davis. 







AD GETS ANOTHER PLAYMAKER

AD has a huge load taken off him as well when Lebron steps off the court with Westbrook being alongside him. Anthony Davis gets another elite PNR(pick and roll) partner and transition mate  in Russell Westbrook.  Even Westbrook on his worst day he is always giving one hundred and twenty percent on both ends of the court and provides a lot of energy and passion that influences his teammates as well. With AD playing with more center this season and him possibly with Russ at times with the second unit, they can play off each other very well. Davis himself is also a good passer for a big men, you could run through offense through him or Westbrook. Davis is elite on the block and on the post and draws a lot of attention from his play. Leaving the possibility for Westbrook to orchestrate backdoor cuts often and can lead to easy points. With AD being such a good mid range shooter and his versatility as a good ball handler for a big, you could even have AD as a PNR ball handler with Russ cutting for either a lob or AD pulling up for a mid range jumper. If the defense switches on that AD will most likely have a smaller guard on him he can either get down and post up or stick to his finesse game and knockdown a mid range jumper. Having both AD and Westbrook penetrating the lane obviously help would have to come which would leave either or open or the several shooters the Lakers have acquired this offseason. 





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THE AMAZING LAKERS OFFSEASON

The Lakers at the start of the offseason only had Lebron, AD, and Marc Gasol technically on the roster. The Lakers, at least on paper, then have had an amazing offseason.  Starting with obviously getting Westbrook, the immediate question and problem to address is shooting. And Lakers GM Rob Pelinka did just that, and some. Signing Carmelo Anthony, Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk, Trevor Ariza, Kendrick Nunn, Kent Bazemore, and then brought back 2020 NBA champion champion Dwight Howard. A complete roster turnaround from last season but the lakers definitely addressed their shooting problem.  Carmelo Anthony took almost five threes a game making them at a forty percent clip with Portland. Wayne Ellington took six threes a game making them at a forty-two percent clip with the Detroit Pistons. Twenty-three year old Malik Monk attempted five threes a game and made them at a forty percent as well on the Hornets.  Veteran 3&D guy Trevor Ariza is a thirty-five percent shooter on almost five attempts per game in Miami.  Kendrick Nunn shot thirty-eight percent on almost six attempts per game in Miami also. And lastly Kent Bazemore  took two attempts per game and shot forty percent playing alongside Stephen Curry. Marc Gasol as well who was on the team last season is a good stretch big, shooting forty-one percent on two attempts. Having two great relatively young players in Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, and resigning Talen Horton-Tucker on a steal of a deal is very good for the lakers and them still having somewhat of a youth.  Getting back Dwight Howard from the 2020 championship squad is huge for the teams center depth and chemistry, as he really never should have left to begin with. Dwight Howard at 35 is still a great backup center or starting for the Lakers and will provide a lot of energy. The Lakers still have three open roster spots that could further their already good offseason. 


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IT'S NOW OR NEVER FOR BRODIE


Russell Westbrook at age thirty-two and now being on a new team the third season in a row, he should really find his home now here in Los Angeles playing alongside Lebron James and Anthony Davis. And you know, it actually being his native home.  A former MVP we are talking about being on a new team for a third consecutive season for the first time in history. A championship no matter what team Westbrook is on he always aspires to win one, but the window for that realistically is now. Russ has played with some very great players: Kevin Durant, Paul George, and James Harden as standouts. But now this could be his best chance to compete for a championship with Lebron and AD. Westbrook having multiple years left on his deal it literally is not now or never but Lebron is only getting older. Health, fit, and his previous teams not being good enough have been the reasons for Westbrook to not get it done previously. If everyones healthy, this Lakers team has enough on paper to win a championship. Westbrook needs to make sure this time fit is not a problem or at least for it to not be on him. There will be a gelling period chemistry wise as there always is when a star player joins a new team. But come playoff time Westbrook needs to be himself or adjust as much as he needs to, to work well and mesh with this Laker team. All great teams require a great amount of sacrifice and unselfishness. I think playing with Lebron James who has changed the narrative of many players from "non-winners" to winners will be great for Russ. With one goal in mind for the whole team I think it is possible for them to mesh and win. The Lakers will be fun to watch next year and as of right now I can say only the Nets really have a chance at being in their way if everything works out. 

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