LeBron hit AD and Russell Westbrook on a 3-way call to ensure they could work things out.
I think the Lakers realize the Nets aren’t that interesting in taking on Russ and giving them Kyrie Irving, so it makes sense the three of them will try to clear the air on some things.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ Big 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook huddled up on a phone conversation the first weekend of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with each expressing their commitment to one another and vowing to make it work, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
While the uncertainty of Westbrook’s future with the Lakers remains, the conversation was organized to make sure all three were on the same page as long as they’re joined together in their pursuit of a championship, sources said.
Westbrook has never requested a trade from the Lakers, sources said.
The former MVP will earn $47 million for the 2022-23 season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023.
Westbrook’s name has been a constant in trade chatter, specifically his link to a potential package that would include Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving.
Westbrook and his agent parted ways over a disagreement on whether Russ should stay with the Lakers.
In a statement to ESPN, Foucher, one of the NBA’s prominent player representatives, cited “irreconcilable differences” and suggested that there was no longer full alignment with Westbrook about whether the former MVP should want to remain with the Lakers for the final season of his $47 million contract.
In a statement, Foucher said: “I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history. I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell’s behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
“Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell — and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.
“Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout.
“My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.
“Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best.”
In the end, none of this matters if Anthony Davis can’t stay healthy.
Flip the page for any potential trades.