KEY POINTS

  • Russel Westbrook and the Lakers have reportedly decided to go in different directions after this season
  • Westbrook has failed to live up to expectations as part of the Lakers
  • Several teams are eyeing to acquire the services of Westbrook

Regardless of how the 2021-22 campaign of the Los Angeles Lakers ends up, Russell Westbrook is not expected to be back.

The 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player has been hardly a factor for the franchise, and it appears that both sides have mutually agreed to part ways.

According to Jack Fischer of the Bleacher Report, both Westbrook and the Lakers will be headed in different directions in the summer.

Hence, both will try to make the most out of the current season although the outlook of the Lakers heading into the NBA playoffs does not look promising.

There were reported plans to move Westbrook to the Houston Rockets before the NBA trade deadline, which would have included John Wall. However, it never happened with "H-Town" demanding to include a prized future pick.

Ironically, Wall and Russell were involved in that huge trade between the Rockets and the Washington Wizards in December 2020.

Unfortunately, the plight of the two never prospered and both find themselves in the doldrums.

Wall has also agreed with the Rockets to sit out the rest of the 2021-22 NBA season. He will have to wait until the offseason to figure out where he will continue his NBA career.

As for Westbrook, it will be interesting if he can recall his old self–the one who can easily deliver triple-double performances.

Several teams have been linked to the 33-year-old guard such as the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans.

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers Getty Images | Ronald Martinez