Russell Westbrook dominated headlines last week, after he was traded to the Lakers from the Wizards. Now, LA has their own big three, with Russ, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis. This is seen in the eyes of a lot of fans as them being legit NBA Finals contenders out west again.
According to ESPN, Russ almost ended up as a Clipper in 2019, though. Russ made a call to try to get to LA, and become a Clipper, but that didn’t happen. Kawhi Leonard signed with them that summer and actually went on to choose Paul George as his teammate. PG and Russ played together in Oklahoma City before, for one season.
Teaming up with Leonard would be the fastest way there, so Westbrook placed the call, according to multiple sources. But Leonard didn’t just take the call as one native son of Los Angeles to another, ponder it and file it away.
He used it.
According to multiple sources, Leonard then called Westbrook’s teammate in Oklahoma City, Paul George, and told him he’d rather team up with him on a homecoming.
Russ’ agent, Thad Foucher, had helped him try to get to LA then, and finally did so last week, in the Lakers deal. The Lakers had been working on a trade to acquire Buddy Hield from the Kings, but then, NBA Draft night came. It was not long until Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard had reached out about the potential trade for Russ.
Russ was reportedly fine with staying with the Wizards but would go to LA if the trade made sense. He went on to thank the Wizards for taking a chance on him and expressed how he received so much love in DC. For Bradley Beal, he reportedly wants to stay with the Wizards, as he’s been with them since getting drafted, in 2012.
Flip the page for the deal that sent Russ to Lakers.