NBA Rumors: Some Within Lakers Believe In Keeping Westbrook

Since the regular season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers being left out of the playoffs, it's almost felt like a foregone conclusion that they would be parting ways with Russell Westbrook. The awkward fit just never came close to working. 

But now comes a report from The Athletic's Jovan Buha that, despite a full season of evidence, there are some around the team that still think the Russ experiment could work. 

There is a sentiment among some within the franchise that the right coach and a better supporting cast could smooth over Westbrook’s awkward fit with (LeBron) James and (Anthony) Davis.

Frank Vogel never got a buy-in from Westbrook, right from training camp, so whoever the new Lakers coach is would have to try something unique to figure out how to make those puzzle pieces fit. 

And recent word, in fact, is that team execs have in fact, during interviews, asked head coaching candidates how they would handle Westbrook.

Reports have the Lakers unwilling to include a future first-round draft pick in any trade to send off Westbrook, which makes the trade market pretty stagnant. If that is the case, they may have no choice but to give the Russ experiment another try. 

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