That is the second consecutive season Russell Westbrook has heard his title come up in commerce rumors, the second straight season he’s heard that the Lakers had been desirous about buying one other participant and that he can be the participant utilized in that transaction.
On Saturday evening, the day after Nets star Kyrie Irving had requested a commerce and the Lakers turned one of many groups kicking the tires on buying the mercurial level guard, in accordance with individuals not licensed to talk publicly on the matter, Westbrook mentioned, “no, I don’t,” when requested if he was feeling any stress earlier than the NBA commerce deadline developing Thursday.
“That’s less than me,” Westbrook mentioned. “Like I mentioned, I’ve recognized this was a enterprise since I used to be 18, 19 years outdated, since I acquired into it. My dad taught me that at that age, attending to this league is a enterprise, and folks make no matter choice they make. And I’ll be sure that I’m prepared {and professional}, like I all the time have been and all the time will likely be.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned he hasn’t had any conversations with Westbrook about commerce rumors.
Ham mentioned their conversations have been about Westbrook being the perfect model of himself as the purpose guard and lightning rod off the bench.
“I’ve checked in with him on attacking extra and never turning down pictures,” Ham mentioned. “He’s always centered on making an attempt to get his teammates the ball. That commerce information and all that, that’s gonna be now. I’m in a honeymoon part now, however I’m positive right here fairly quickly, most likely the subsequent yr or two or three possibly, who is aware of, they’ll be speaking about firing me. And I’m gonna need to nonetheless are available and do my rattling job. And I’m not afraid of that. Like, it’s what it’s. I do know what we signed up for.”
When will LeBron James develop into NBA’s all-time main scorer?
A take a look at LeBron James’ pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring file.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar factors: 38,387
LeBron James factors: 38,352
Factors from file: 36 factors
Projected video games till file: 2
Projected file date: Feb. 9 vs. Bucks
Westbrook had one other stable recreation for the Lakers in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 15 factors on six-for-11 capturing, with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
He performed simply 23 minutes, and departed with 11:02 left within the fourth quarter and didn’t play once more.
“No matter choice they make, that’s as much as them,” Westbrook mentioned about his restricted enjoying time within the fourth. “I can solely converse to what I’ve been doing, being skilled, coming to work, doing my job one of the best ways I understand how to.”
The Lakers will proceed to make calls and do their due diligence in on the lookout for methods to enhance the group, Ham mentioned. If a commerce takes place, or not, Rob Pelinka, the group’s vice chairman of basketball operations and basic supervisor, will put within the work.
“Rob and the crew within the entrance workplace, everybody collaborating making an attempt to see what wants may be crammed,” Ham mentioned. “If there are particular abilities on the market that may improve our probabilities to get us to the place we’re making an attempt to get to, that’s nice. However till one thing is finished, it’s all rumour, all rumor, innuendo. Once more, we don’t play fantasy basketball. When it’s actual, it’s actual. When it’s not, we don’t take note of it.”
Troy Brown Jr. stable in his function
Lakers ahead Troy Brown Jr. runs on the court docket towards the New York Knicks on Jan. 31.
(Frank Franklin II / Related Press)
Troy Brown Jr. hasn’t began the final two video games for the Lakers, however he was excellent in his function off the bench towards the Pelicans.
He protection was on level and his scoring was very a lot wanted.
He performed 30 minutes, 10 of them within the fourth quarter as a part of the Lakers’ closing lineup.
Brown made two massive three-pointers within the fourth, one from the nook to tug the Lakers to inside three and one from the highest of the arc to tie the rating at 118-118, each pictures with confidence, each off passes from his teammates.
He completed the sport with 13 factors on five-for-nine capturing, and had six rebounds.
“I feel over the yr I’ve gotten used to my function,” Brown mentioned. “I’ve form of grown over the yr to be extra accustomed within the second half of having the ability to hit massive pictures and simply making an attempt to play my function.”
