The Los Angeles Lakers just suffered one of their worst losses of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night—the first game Russell Westbrook missed this year.

Despite the point guard's absence from the contest, he was still a topic of interest as Frank Vogel took to the podium after the loss. The Lakers coach was asked if there's a chance Russell Westbrook isn't on the team after the deadline, to which he had a brief but telling response.

Via ClutchPoints' Michael Corvo:

“If there's way to improve our team, we'll improve our team,” said the Lakers coach. “I've got nothing else to say about the trade deadline.”

Westbrook suddenly missing action for the Lakers right before the trade deadline sounded the alarm for speculation regarding his trade status. While it's not Vogel's job to make trades and roster decisions of that nature, his comments don't exactly do much to deter any speculation.

Russell Westbrook and Frank Vogel have seemingly been at odds of late as the former appears to have fallen out of favor with the latter's late-game rotations.

“The needs of the team always come first … We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the Lakers a win. Sometimes he’s going to be in there for that, sometimes he’s not,” said the Lakers coach on lowering Westbrook's minutes of late.

When your player, who's making around $50 million in annual salary, isn't a guarantee to play big minutes, it's hard to say that any team, the Lakers included, wouldn't be willing to part ways if the right deal comes.