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Report: Westbrook was open to staying with Wizards before trade initially appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Los Angeles Lakers, as soon as once more, shook up the panorama of the NBA final week after they traded for Washington Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook in alternate for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and a first-round decide.
Westbrook, who starred in his one season with Washington and averaged one other triple-double, was reportedly open to operating it again with the Wizards and alongside star guard Bradley Beal as soon as once more subsequent season, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne.
Nonetheless, when the chance introduced himself to be traded to LA and contend for a championship, the 32-year-old felt it was too good of a chance to go up.
“Sources point out Westbrook and [his agent Thad] Foucher referred to as the Wizards to say that he was completely happy to play in Washington one other two seasons, but when there was a commerce with the Lakers that made sense for each franchises, he would welcome the possibility to compete for a championship in his hometown,” Shelbourne wrote.
Moreover, ESPN reported that Westbrook was in fixed dialog with Beal about their future collectively in Washington, as each gamers mulled their subsequent steps.
“Westbrook had been in shut communication with Beal for the reason that season ended, as each weighed their basketball futures in D.C., sources stated,” Shelbourne wrote. “They’d loved enjoying collectively final season and felt some optimism {that a} second can be extra profitable than their opening-round playoff exit. However each additionally had issues in regards to the skill of the group, as presently constructed, to compete on the highest stage.”
Associated: After trading Westbrook, what’s next for the Wizards?
Beal, who has not requested a commerce from Washington, remains loyal and committed to Washington, the one franchise he is ever performed. The three-time All-Star has one 12 months remaining on his present deal and is eligible for the highest-possible max-salary extension subsequent offseason as a 10-year veteran.
Westbrook had beforehand tried to formulate a commerce to Los Angeles two summers in the past, based on Shelbourne, and reached out to then-free agent Kawhi Leonard about probably teaming up. Leonard then reached out to Westbrook’s then-Thunder teammates, Paul George, about them two teaming up in LA as an alternative.
Leonard and George finally ended up with the Clippers days later, whereas Westbrook was later traded to Houston in alternate for James Harden. Westbrook was then traded to Washington proper earlier than coaching camp in 2020, as he expressed his need to go away the Rockets after Harden was mulling his future with the group as effectively.
Now, two years later, Westbrook is in Los Angeles alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, able to compete for a championship ring — the one factor lacking from his adorned résumé.
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