Los Angeles Lakers Are 'Comfortable' Heading Into Training Camp With Russell Westbrook

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Russell Westbrook is still part of the Los Angeles Lakers, even though the team has reportedly tried to ship him elsewhere even since last season. The point guard mightily failed to make an impact on the team, but his bad fit with LeBron James and a rift with Frank Vogel hurt his chances to be great. 

Ever since that moment, many fans have asked the team to get rid of Westbrook, who was a shell of himself last season. In recent days, the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz have sounded like strong candidates to acquire Westbrook's services, but that move is yet to be completed now. 

The Lakers seem to have options to deal Russ, but it doesn't seem like they're keen to do it, contrary to what people think. They failed to trade Kyrie Irving, and it looks like they will stick with Westbrook at least for one more season. 

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Lakers Are Comfortable With Westbrook On The Roster 

As much as people want to see Westbrook out of the Lakers, the team's front office is reportedly ready to keep him on the roster and see how well he can play under Darvin Ham. According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, they are 'comfortable' heading into training camp with the controversial player on the roster. 

Sources say the Lakers are comfortable heading into training camp with Westbrook on their roster, hoping new coach Darvin Ham can unlock increased intensity on defense while another season with James and Davis makes life easier on offense. The argument for that, of course, is if the Lakers can’t build into a true contender via trade this month, wait and handle it down the road either through free agency or future trades. A bad deal now that forces them to offload one or two future firsts wouldn’t dramatically raise the ceiling on this year’s team and handcuff them even more down the road, sort of a worst-case scenario for the organization.

Westbrook is a polarizing figure and Lakers Nation learned that firsthand last season. They have given up on the former MVP, but the team's officials want to give it another try, knowing how high Darvin Ham seems to be on the point guard. In recent days, it was reported that the Lakers had offered Russ to at least five teams, but it's clear that they haven't gotten any traction around the league.