What will the Los Angeles Lakers do next season?
This problem has been hotly debated since the Lakers did not qualify for the playoffs, and in terms of the Lakers' lineup configuration, even if they can't compete for the championship, they won't fall into the situation of being a playoff spectator. However, the reality is so cruel, James, Davis and Westbrook, these three names are majestic, but the Lakers are drenched in the breeze.
What the Lakers' problems are, it's a difficult thing to say clearly, Frank Vogel was fired by the Lakers, and the responsibility can't be put on him. Whether Westbrook fit the Lakers' system, Frank Vogel was forced to accept an insurmountable task, and then he failed to give the answer perfectly, but the responsibility also fell on him.
In the NBA league, such things often happen.
However, firing Frank Vogel can't ignore the problem at hand, and Westbrook is still in the Lakers lineup. Previous media reported that trading Westbrook is not an easy task, and the Lakers have to take the first round of signing for this. The Lakers' first-round picks are not like the Thunder's ridiculously large numbers, so are the Lakers willing to trade the first-round picks?
Moreover, the first-round picks that the Lakers can use will not be until 2027 at the earliest.
In such a situation, the Lakers actually have a plan to keep Westbrook, and the team will greet the selector "how to use Westbrook" during the coach selection process. That is to say, the Lakers may leave Westbrook and try to play competitively in the game next season with the "Big Three" lineup.
Of course, this may also be a gesture made by the Lakers for the deal.
How to use Westbrook became a key part of the Lakers' solution. Chris Mannix suggested on the show "Dan Patrick Show" that the Lakers should talk to Westbrook and must convince Westbrook to play the role of sixth man, which is the only way to solve the problem of Westbrook's integration with the team.
In the NBA league, although there are stars like Stephen Curry who do not care about playing substitutes, in most cases, stars are not willing to put down their condescending benches. You should remember that when Anthony played for the Thunder, he would not accept being placed on the bench anyway. After Being signed by the Rockets, Anthony played several games as a sixth-man, but that later made Anthony angry.
Due to Westbrook's personality, it was difficult for him to accept the arrangement of playing on the bench.
There have been long-standing arguments that Westbrook should be a substitute, and Vogel has never made such a decision. Mannix thought Westbrook should play the sixth man, and hoped that Westbrook could change himself, "if Westbrook still considers himself an MVP, it obviously won't work."
Westbrook's playing style does not match James's, Westbrook needs to have the ball in hand and often makes mistakes, but if he is allowed to play without the ball, he cannot play to his strengths. It's worth a try to get Westbrook on the bench, and if Westbrook can improve the power of the team's second team, it's definitely a good thing for the Lakers.
But did the Lakers say yes to Westbrook?
(Text/Yan Wujun)
