NBA analyst Ric Bucher believes Russell Westbrook will be better off leading the second team from the bench and it will be better for the Lakers if they start with Pat Beverley, who they recently signed. It is well known that Beverley and Westbrook don’t share the best of relationships together and it would be interesting to note how they will play together in the same team.
Westbrook’s performances in the last season were not up to the mark and the team’s new head coach Darvin Ham had recently said the 33-year-old will play a major role for the team in the upcoming edition of the NBA.
Ric Bucher said on the Odd Couple podcast, “I can see a scenario where the Lakers are better with Pat Beverley starting and Russell Westbrook running the second unit coming off the bench. I just don’t know if Russell Westbrook can stomach the idea of Patrick Beverley starting over him.”
On the other hand, Bucher believes the Lakers don’t have so much talent in their team to simply remove Westbrook from their roster.
“Anybody who thinks that the Lakers are better by just getting rid of Russell Westbrook? I’m not with you. They don’t have enough talent to sacrifice that and they’re not gonna be able to trade him…
“Tell me who wants that contract!? Some people might pick him up, maybe? But they’re not gonna give anything up for him.”
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 78 games in the previous season and he will be looking to come up with a much-improved show.
Darvin Ham had said during the LA Lakers summer league showcase, “Russ, in my opinion, is in great shape. He’s durable. In this system, this ‘four-out, one-in system, he’s going to have a chance to screen-and-roll and make plays. He’s going to have a chance to run on the break, slash, and get layups.
