INQUISITR.COM / Sports

Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Russell Westbrook Could Be Top Target As Team Looks To Kick Off Post-Kobe Bryant Era With Major Turnaround

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 15:55 PST, Jul 17, 2016

The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be looking for a splash in the post-Kobe era, with a potential trade for Russell Westbrook in an effort to make them an immediate contender again in the Western Conference.

The Lakers reached the end of an era this season when Kobe Bryant retired, ending his two decades of dominance over the NBA. Though Kobe’s athleticism had waned in the last few seasons and he was plagued by injuries, he still carried an enormous stature on a team that sees the most media attention in the league.

The Lakers had seen the transition coming for some time, but they likely didn’t predict the opportunity that would come when Kevin Durant decided to bolt from Oklahoma City and join the Golden State Warriors. With Westbrook set to become a free agent next year, there is growing sentiment that the Thunder may try to trade him now and take whatever return they can get, using the newly acquired assets to help in the unplanned and unexpected rebuild.

There is a strong indication around the league that this is the route the Thunder will take. The team was taken completely by surprise with Durant’s departure, as the prevailing sentiment was that he would return to the team that he had just taken to the brink of the NBA Finals before blowing a three games to one lead over the Warriors.

Bleacher Report noted that some trade discussions may have already taken place during the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, with the Thunder looking to make a move on Westbrook “sooner rather than later.”

Many league insiders see the Los Angeles Lakers at the most logical destination for Russell Westbrook. As CBS Sports writer Matt Moore noted, just about everything would seem to fit for Westbrook to join the Lakers.

“They have plenty of young, talented players who were drafted high. More importantly, they have potential superstar talents in Brandon Ingram, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. Their draft-pick situations are compromised, but they have players and could provide picks down the line to grease the wheels. You also wonder if Westbrook, who is from Southern California and attended UCLA, would favor a return home. He would get to take over as the star who picked up the franchise from the ashes without dealing with Kobe Bryant’s shadow.”

If the rumors connecting the Los Angeles Lakes to Russell Westbrook are true, they could have a lot of competition. In just the past week, close to a half-dozen teams have been linked to Westbrook.

One of the chief contenders are the Boston Celtics, a team with plenty of capital in the form of draft picks and young talent and a will to become a major player in the Eastern Conference. There are reports that the Celtics may have their eyes on both Westbrook and Los Angeles Clippers big man Blake Griffin, a duo that would make them strong contenders to top the Cleveland Cavaliers and win the conference.

Bleacher Report pegged the Celtics as the top team in contention for Westbrook, though the report didn’t say if there were any solid discussions in place between the teams.

But the rumors claiming that Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers could likely become true — even if it happens a little later than expected. Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript reported that league executives have a strong sense that Westbrook will end up in L.A., though it may not happen until he becomes a free agent after the upcoming season. So the Russell Westbrook era in Los Angeles, if it is going to happen, may have to wait a while.

[Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images]

Share this article: Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Russell Westbrook Could Be Top Target As Team Looks To Kick Off Post-Kobe Bryant Era With Major Turnaround
Los Angeles Lakers Russell Westbrook
More from Inquisitr