The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the NBA's most disappointing teams this past season, as a roster that featured LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook meekly finished 33-49, missing out on both the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament. While the Lakers were hit with injuries to James and Davis, there was still no excuse for the team to perform the way it did.

As a result, former head coach Frank Vogel took the heat, as he was fired back in April. The Lakers then brought in former NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to be the next head coach. One of Ham's most important tasks will be getting the most out of Westbrook, easily Los Angeles' most disappointing player from 2021. In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Ham revealed how he plans to revitalize Westbrook next season.

Ham said that he “challenged” Westbrook to defend at a high-level next year, one that the star guard accepted. The nine-time All-Star was a strong defender earlier in his career, routinely posting defensive ratings in the low 100s.

Expecting a banner defensive year out of a 33-year-old Westbrook is not realistic, though he can certainly still make an impact on that end of the floor. What should most excite Lakers fans is what Ham plans for Westbrook on the offensive end.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/39R9A4qBBb8J5jWRVKkzlu?si=fb28282f75324172

Westbrook will be in “different spots” on offense, with Ham saying that the Lakers will have him off-ball, handling the ball, posting up and even used as a screener in the pick-and-roll at times.

This will allow Westbrook to attack defenses from different areas on the floor, hopefully making him more difficult to defend.

Ham has the plan in place. It's up to Westbrook and the Lakers to execute it, though.