Aug 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (0) reaches for the ball out of the hands of San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan (10) during the first half of a NBA basketball game at The Field House, Lakers Rumors: LeBron chose Russell Westbrook over DeMar DeRozan, Lakers rumors. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers trade for Russell Westbrook is widely viewed as one of the worst trades in recent memory. Hindsight is always 20/20, but with how bad it’s worked out for the Lakers, that doesn’t really matter anymore.
Westbrook just hasn’t been able to fit in with LA, and although injuries have hurt them, their season has been disappointing regardless. But according to a former employee of the team, they could have gotten a different player instead.
Lakers Rumors: LeBron chose Russell Westbrook over DeMar DeRozan
No, this isn’t talking about the Buddy Hield trade (although that was brought up). On a recent edition of ESPN’s Get Up, Laker legend and former President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson said that they could have gotten DeMar DeRozan. (H/T Bleacher Report, Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll)
.@MagicJohnson says the Lakers could’ve had DeRozan, Hield and Caruso instead of Westbrook 👀
“If you sign DeRozan, you only trade Kuzma for Buddy Hield, we would be playing in the Western Conference championship this year with those two guys.” pic.twitter.com/hZ7DdPhWu1
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 4, 2022
According to Johnson, he got a call from DeRozan’s agents this past offseason saying that DeRozan wanted to return to his hometown state and play for the Lakers. In turn, he informed the Lakers of this.
However, once LeBron James and Anthony Davis began talks with Russell Westbrook, they nixed that deal and chose to team up with him instead of DeRozan.
Again, hindsight is 20/20, and Westbrook had a better season than DeRozan did last year, but there isn’t an NBA fan out there…
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