After the Lakers missed the playoffs, Westbrook's whereabouts came under scrutiny. According to previous news, the Lakers will part ways with Wei Shao this summer, but from the current point of view, if Wei Shao leaves the Lakers, he may also be traded or laid off, and it is impossible to actively buy out the contract.
According to a report by RAMONA Shelburn, a senior journalist at ESPN, an insider said: "Proud Westbrook is cautious about the buyout because he feels it is a shame for him. And he still feels he can contribute to a team at a high level. ”
This season, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game for the Lakers, averaging less than 20+ points per game for the first time since the 2009-10 season. When teaming up with James and Davis, Westbrook was completely unable to integrate, and the contribution to the Lakers this season was very limited. Although the data still looks good, the Lakers coaching staff has long given up on Westbrook, and once very much hoped that the team could trade Westbrook.
But for various reasons, the Lakers have not traded Westbrook this season. For this reason, when the Lakers are now missing the playoffs, Westbrook, who is not happy with the Lakers, is widely believed to leave the team this summer. But given this season's bad reviews, Westbrook will certainly not abandon the contract option, but will execute the contract option. In that case, the Lakers and Wei Shao parted ways either by trading him with a draft pick or other players, or by cutting him outright, or by negotiating a buyout with him.
However, from the current point of view, Wei Shao is not willing to buy out. Although Westbrook still thinks he has the ability to break out again, in terms of performance this season, he is no longer a super point guard, and the gap between curry, Doncic, Irving, Morant and other super defenders has been widened.