“Terrible Mistake By The Lakers”: NBA Twitter Melts Down After LeBron James And Team Made A Crucial Decision Last Minute To Keep Russell Westbrook
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“Terrible Mistake By The Lakers”: NBA Twitter Melts Down After LeBron James And Team Made A Crucial Decision Last Minute To Keep Russell Westbrook
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USA Today via Reuters
Jan 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) was given a technical foul for his reaction after a dunk over Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) was given a technical foul for his reaction after a dunk over Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Considering the Los Angeles Lakers’ position in the league, a majority of fans expected a trade by the NBA trade deadline. The team started their year with a Russell Westbrook trade with the Washington Wizards, forming a big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. The results, however, are not what they expected.
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Just in position to qualify for the play-in tournament, a LeBron James-led team were expected to be top title contenders. Naturally, teams looked to acquire Russell Westbrook. But the Lakers were not willing to part ways with the 2017 NBA MVP.
.@ChrisBHaynes says Lakers declined Rockets offer of John Wall for Russell Westbrook & a first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/fqg9dhBh4D
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 11, 2022
Fans react to the Lakers rejecting a possible Russell Westbrook trade offer
While on Inside the NBA, Chris Haynes started by speaking about the Lakers and their current situation. “It was tough,” Haynes said, adding that everyone knows the Lakers are without many assets. Furthermore, Haynes believes that Talen Horton-Tucker was the only player they could have traded. Unfortunately, there’s no one in his stead that could really benefit the Lakers.
“The Rockets did reach out to the Lakers to offer John Wall for Russell Westbrook, but they wanted the Lakers to include a first-round pick,” Haynes explained. “The Lakers declined that. So that was the end of that discussion right there”.
Imo this was a terrible mistake by the Lakers.
— Mamba Forever🐍 (@UniteFor_Change) February 11, 2022
They depleted their young core and future picks for a bubble ring. They thought the 2013-18 years were bad. Lol. Wait till lebron leaves. Lol.
— Djossuppah Art (@djossuppah) February 11, 2022
this is the worst offer i’ve ever heard
— Ryan J (@macandcheesepot) February 11, 2022
Don’t matter if it was the right choice, Lakers Nation gonna melt down when they hear it
— Ben Stahl (@ralphredimix) February 11, 2022
They are basically teasing the return of JR Smith
— Vic (@HereLiesVic) February 11, 2022
Yep, just waive the white flag after losing to the Portland Trailblazers junior varsity team.
I hate the fact that the Lakers didn’t do a minor trade— Dre Day (@ddpage369) February 11, 2022
Wasnt the pick with wall last time? Lakers rejecting out of spite lol
— man wit da sauce (@wildleafman) February 11, 2022
Clearly, fans who were hoping for a better second half were not impressed. However, certain fans did side with their team, pointing out that despite everything, Wall would probably do no good for the Lakers. Loyal fans still do believe in LeBron James and hope that he might be able to turn things around, eventually.
What did annoy a few users was the absence of a minor trade by the team. They believe that while the Lakers refused to part with Westbrook, they could have at least traded a few players to strengthen their roster.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 9, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) in the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Of course, some are convinced that nothing can be done at this stage. What’s done is done, and the Lakers won’t be able to save their season no matter what they do.
Will the buyout market help the team?
In the end, Haynes added that the team will now focus on the buyout market. Unfortunately, that might not do much to help their standings. While it might help tweak their performance on the court, they won’t be the title team everyone thought they would be.
Having said that, the Lakers are currently placed ninth in the Western Conference with a 26-30 win-loss record.
Watch This Story: 5 Games Which Prove Russell Westbrook Criticism Is Not Fair
Do you think the team should have traded Westbrook? Can James still turn the season around? Let us know in the comments below.
