NBA Rumors: Lakers "Strongly Considering" Not Starting Westbrook

With the Los Angeles Lakers' re-acquisition on Friday of free agent point guard Dennis Schröder, it appears that Russell Westbrook, if he's not traded, is going to have his work cut out for him to retain a starting role. 

Russell Westbrook coming off the bench is being “strongly considered” by the Lakers, per @sam_amick and @jovanbuha

HC Darvin Ham is ready to make “whatever difficult rotation decisions” lie ahead for the team pic.twitter.com/ZgfOs2bTXJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 16, 2022

In fact, according to Sam Amick and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, "it seems clear Westbrook will have to outplay new additions Patrick Beverley and Schröder if he’s going to retain his starting role.... Sources with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that the prospect of Westbrook coming off the bench is being strongly considered."

The Lakers have beefed up their point guard spot by first trading for Pat Bev just a couple of weeks ago, and now signing ex-Laker Schröder to a veteran's minimum free agent deal. 

Amick and Buha continued by noting that the Lakers have "put the onus on Westbrook to find a way to fit in here. No matter how big or small his role might be."

They conclude by stating that new head coach Darvin Ham has the full backing of the organization to make whatever "difficult rotation decisions" he needs to make in the interest of team success.

Photos: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports