If there was any ephemeral hope Russell Westbrook would change his ways just enough to make things work for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, that hope is gone now.
After playing a solid game on opening night, he has combined to go 4-of-26 in the last two contests, and his ill-advised pull-up jumper late in Sunday’s tilt versus the Portland Trail Blazers was a big reason the Lakers lost.
L.A. is 0-3 and the murmurs regarding Westbrook are growing louder. Fans want him off the team now, one way or another.
Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins had some poignant words for the former MVP on ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday.
“Russ’ behavior is coming cancerous to the team,” Perkins said. “And we heard Darvin Ham talk about it. You know why Darvin Ham said about people in they feelings? Because when Russell Westbrook was on the bench, he was moping. He was complaining. He was chirping. He was saying little things under his breath.
“Now all of the sudden, what do you do now? You know what you do? You send him home. You send him home. You send him home until you find a place to trade — that somebody’s going to trade for him. Because right now, you can’t continue to bring him into that locker room, bring him into that facility because his attitude is going to weigh on everybody. It’s going to weigh on the coaching staff. It’s going to weigh on his teammates. It’s going to weigh on his training staff.”
There is no indication the Lakers have even considered sending Westbrook home at this point. It has also been reported that they will wait at least another month before re-engaging in trade talks.
Perkins also had a dire warning for Westbrook
The former big man didn’t stop when he suggested the Lakers send Westbrook home. In fact, he said that if the guard isn’t careful, he “will find himself out of the league next year.”
There could be some truth to that. As far as anyone can tell, if L.A. does trade Westbrook at some point this season, the team that acquires him would simply buy out his contract and release him on the spot.
Just a few years ago, Westbrook was considered a borderline superstar and a valuable player. Now, the perception is that he is a negative asset and a toxic influence.
