MY ACCOUNT
Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel has not ruled out a trade involving Russell Westbrook ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Nine-time NBA All-Star Westbrook missed his first game of the season on Wednesday as the Lakers fell to a 107-105 defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 33-year-old’s absence was put down to a back injury sustained the previous evening against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Westbrook spent the final quarter of that game watching from the sidelines, having earlier been jeered by his own fans, and later questioned Vogel’s rotation policy.
That has done little to help the relationship between Westbrook and Vogel, with strong suggestions the 2017 MVP could be on his way out.
And rather than put an end to those rumours on the back of the defeat to Portland, Vogel instead offered a rather cryptic response.
Asked if there is a chance Westbrook will not be a part of the team once the trade deadline passes, Vogel said: “If there’s way to improve our team, we’ll improve our team.
“I’ve got nothing else to say about the trade deadline.”
Westbrook, traded to the Lakers from the Washington Wizards last August, has 1,006 points for the season, a tally bettered only by LeBron James (1,133) among Lakers players.
But Westbrook’s 18.3 average through 55 games is his lowest since 2009-10, and down from the 31.6 managed with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016-17 when crowned MVP.
He was on court for just 26 minutes against the Bucks prior to hinting at his displeasure with Vogel, who in response insisted no player is bigger than the team.
“The needs of the team always come first,” he said on Wednesday. “We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the Lakers a win.
“Sometimes he’s going to be in there for that, sometimes he’s not.”
The Lakers have now lost six of their last eight games and are 26-30 for the season, with a winning percentage of .464 placing them ninth in the Western Conference.
James, who top-scored for the Lakers against the Trail Blazers with 30 points, admitted the trade rumours are having a negative impact on his side.
“Obviously it’s something that’s weighing on this group that we’re trying to all get through,” he said.
“It almost feels like fog in the air and we’re all trying to see what’s on the other side of it.”
