Russell Westbrook's take on playing for the Lakers is perfect: 'Nah'
For most NBA free agents-to-be, dancing around the question of where they'd like to play on their next contract is an art form. For Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, however, being asked about his free-agency plans is an excuse to get right to the point.
Even though he won't be a free agent until the summer of 2017, the topic of whether Westbrook would like to play for the Los Angeles Lakers came up at Saturday's All-Star media availability. His answer was short and sweet (unless you're a Lakers fan):
A reporter asked Russell Westbrook today if he wants to play for the Lakers pic.twitter.com/FwTiQx30pV
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 13, 2016
That might just be Westbrook having some fun with the media and a predictable line of questions. Still, it's a pretty nasty burn for the Lakers. Westbrook's from Los Angeles, and he played college ball at UCLA. The fact that he'd so quickly decline any hint of a conversation about playing for the Lakers hurts.
Assuming Westbrook stays true to his word and remains in Oklahoma City (and despite all the rumors about his teammate Kevin Durant heading elsewhere, the likeliest outcome from where we sit is both players sticking around, at least for now), maybe we'll stop trying to put each big NBA free agent in LeBron James' shoes.
Just because The King went home doesn't mean that's what everyone wants to do. Especially if going home means picking up the pieces of the post-Kobe Bryant era.
