The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the basketball world on Thursday after it was revealed that they had struck a blockbuster deal with the Washington Wizards to bring Russell Westbrook to Hollywood. As it turns out, however, it looks like Russ was never really the Lakers' first choice.
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Westbrook was merely “Plan B” for the Lakers, who themselves had other big names in mind:
Per NBA sources, the Lakers went into the offseason with a clear Plan A: unrealistic hopes of landing a Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal. Plan B was Chris Paul (but then the Phoenix Suns advanced to the NBA Finals) and Westbrook. Hield was always Plan C.
There's just too much to unpack from this massive revelation.
For starters, it is abundantly clear that LeBron James and the Lakers were very active in trying to recruit a third superstar to LA. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal were their primary targets, but as the above report states, both players were simply unattainable for the Lakers.
Chris Paul has also been heavily linked to a move to Hollywood even after the Suns went on what was nothing short of a majestic NBA Finals run. Westbrook's arrival pretty much throws that pipe dream out the window.
Whatever the case may be, Westbrook is now a member of the Lakers, and it is also clear that LeBron and Co. wanted him in LA. It probably won't matter much that Russ was just their second choice (or third) — assuming that these rumors are true, of course. Right now, Hollywood's new Big 3 and the rest of the Lakers have one thing in mind, and that's taking back the NBA title.
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