Reports Indicate Los Angeles Lakers Might Make Russell Westbrook Inactive If They Can’t Trade Him

The Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to figure out their Russell Westbrook problem.

It looks like the addition of Patrick Beverley has brought up more questions about Russell Westbrook’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, with Patrick Beverley now on the Lakers roster, it’s looking more and more likely that Russell Westbrook won’t see the court at all for the Lakers in the upcoming season, at least that’s the story according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. According to the report, Russell Westbrook could either be traded or simply sent away from the team.

More from The Athletic:

“Beverley’s arrival makes it more likely that Westbrook will be off the active roster by the start of training camp, either through a trade or the team sending him home a la the Rockets with John Wall last season, according to a source close to the situation.”

One NBA executive who spoke to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report believes there are three “obvious” trade partners for the Lakers in any Westbrook deal.  The Pacers and Spurs have the cap flexibility to make a deal work, while the Jazz have the highly-paid veterans who would be required for salary-matching purposes.

But if the trade route doesn’t pan out, can the Lakers really afford to shelve Russell Westbrook and his $47 million salary, that seems pretty extreme. It’s not out of the question that Westbrook and Beverley can kiss and make up, but according to the report, Westbrook has never forgiven Beverley for his role in his ’13 injury. If that’s the case, it would be further incentive for the Lakers to move on from Westbrook before the season begins.

Whatever they do they need to figure it out sooner rather than later.

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