Contra bookies, I think Westbrook makes the Lakers worse not better

Savvy NBA fans see Russell Westbrook as a stats-full, results-empty kind of player.

Sure, the Thunder went to the NBA Finals early in his career, in his fourth season. But, that's before he became that full-on stats-full guy, chasing the triple doubles to the benefit of his personal bottom line but the detriment of the team's.

So, that's why I am not a fan (from the Lakers POV) of this trade, which sends Lil Russ west in exchange for Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma, plus the Lake Show's first-rounder from last night, with the Wiz sending back two second-rounders down the road.

If the deal goes through, that draft choice is Kentucky one-and-done forward Isaiah Jackson, who may have a decent upside but needs to put some weight on, among other things. (The Wiz then traded THAT to Indy for Aaron Holiday, an interesting move as he's had an up-and-down three years in the Association. Holiday is short at 6-0, but does have some defensive reputation.)

From the Wiz perspective? It gives them more salary flexibility to resign Bradley Beal, as many noted. (For the coming season, the Wiz are now about $9 million lighter on payroll, and Harrell comes off after this year — all other players have two years left.) And, that trio plus Rui Hachimura? That's to build around.

And, it's otherwise brilliant to have, in just over a year, to dumped John Wall's contract for Russ's, and now dumping his.

As for the Lakers?

Is Russ gonna steal boards from Anthony Davis and LeBron James?

Is he gonna shoot 3-balls he shouldn't? AD is arguably better, LeBron definitely. Russ had never been a good 3-baller. He does still bring good D to the floor, that said, and with AD and a still-OK Bron, they're pretty good there.

 

And? Is Russ going to holster his ego playing alongside those two? It's called "chemistry," and that too is now definitely changing with the Lakers. And, that too is probably NOT changing for the better.

One other quick observation: The Wiz are now definitely younger and the Lakers even older. And, they're going to be a better 3-ball team than before, the Wiz that is.

The Wiz surely aren't done. Hachimura and Moritz Wagner are kind of the same guy, only Hachimura's more athletic. I can see, with the new players, the Wiz trying to move him, or others.

As for the Lakers, are they done? Or is what Hoops Rumors says has also had a few legs, a sign-and-trade of Dennis Schroder for Kyle Lowry, still in the works? That, too, runs the risk of making the Lakers older more than anything else. And, I think this eliminates Buddy Hield talk.