The Russell Westbrook experiment didn't work out by any means for the Los Angeles Lakers, with the former MVP struggling to fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He's expected to pick up his $47 million player option this offseason, but there is a very good chance the team tries to trade him.
Reports have surfaced recently about Westbrook clashing with coaches and teammates, essentially doubling down on his forgettable campaign. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Russ was challenged by assistant David Fizdale on his shot selection, which resulted in a heated exchange:
Westbrook remained a professional throughout the season, but his partnership with Vogel failed to gain traction as the season went on. In an early-season film session, assistant coach David Fizdale challenged Westbrook on his shot selection, and the two had an animated exchange, sources said. That was one of the instances when Westbrook was challenged by a coach or teammate, and the style the coaching staff envisioned for Westbrook did not match what took place on the court.
It appears the Lakers guard wasn't too fond of any criticism. He reportedly met with AD and LeBron prior to joining last summer and made it clear he'd accept any role asked of him. That was far from the case, evident by his numbers. Russ shot just 29% from downtown and 44% from the field.
The Pacers and Hornets have emerged as potential landing spots for Westbrook, but it remains to be seen if he'll end up getting traded to one of these teams. It's definitely hard to imagine the Lakers keeping him around for another year.
Only time will tell.
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