Former Los Angeles Lakers star Metta Sandiford-Artest is not one bit concerned about Russell Westbrook and the future of the Purple and Gold despite their disastrous 2021-22 season.
The Lakers missed the playoffs after finishing 11th in the West, a shocking ending to a season that started with championship aspirations behind LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook. Frank Vogel has since been fired following the campaign, and questions about the team's future are running rampant.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/34ocYBAYRNQiTnnPfkOCwr?si=432c452219574b0d
Artest, however, thinks the Lakers' problems are easy to fix. He even expressed belief that Vogel did a good job with the team, it's just that the expectations to win are too high in Los Angeles.
“Frank Vogel, I think he did a great job. But it was tough. Lakers are a tough city, you gotta win,” Metta Sandiford-Artest said, per SNY.TV. “And he wasn't able to get this crew together like fans would've liked. So they did what they had to do.
“So now I think the Lakers will be fine if [Anthony Davis] comes back better. LeBron [James] is fine. LeBron is incredible. And then [Russell] Westbrook, not the greatest season, but I believe in him. I think that all his issues are fixable to me, honestly. Every single one of them. He’s someone who I would definitely love to coach. A player like that, someone who you can help get out of a rut, that’s a real challenge.”
The Lakers are still in the middle of finding a new coach, and they are taking their time as they assess who among the more established coaches in the NBA would be available.
Once they find a new coach, though, they have to figure out what to do with their aging roster. It is clear they need to get younger and be more athletic, but the assets they have are pretty limited.
Los Angeles also need to answer if they want to keep the core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook or make a major tweak.
For now, the Lakers faithful cannot do anything but wait.
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