Many awards and titles have been given to Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, but he still looks for an NBA championship.
Some thought that an opportunity for a title would be realized upon his joining the Los Angeles Lakers, but that didn’t happen last season and likely this will not happen for the 2022-23 season.
Westbrook is in his second season with the Lakers and the Russell Westbrook prop bets below prompt serious debate among NBA fans and the LA faithful.
Let’s pick and roll through these Westbrook and Lakers prop bets to see what’s going to happen in “LA LA Land” this season.
Russell Westbrook’s defense last night was just incredible. He has the talent. pic.twitter.com/gaCFPFRFdh
— ⚡️fan account (@TheWestbrookEra) December 14, 2022
Will the Lakers Trade Russell Westbrook?
Right now, oddsmakers place the Lakers trading Westbrook at (-250) while not trading him and keeping him in the iconic purple and gold uniform is listed at a (+170).
Looking at Westbrook’s numbers for his career vs. the statistics of this season, the first thing that comes to mind is his age and status to still perform at the high levels.
However, in averaging 28.6 minutes per game with only three starts in his 26 games, Westbrook has made only 29 three-point field goals in 102 attempts and he has the third-largest number in total.
With Westbrook listed as the point guard behind Dennis Schroder on the Lakers depth chart, the former UCLA Bruin has been more of a combo guard by nature where he is more defined as a shooter and scorer than a table setter from the point.
The Lakers are last in the NBA as they average only 14.4 points off of turnovers and are outscored by 3.1 points per game. Lakers’ opponents average 17.5 points off of LA turnovers.
Say “Yes” to the Russell Westbrook prop bet that he will be traded (-250) as there are NBA teams that seemingly would add Westbrook to allow him to create his shots in rhythm as either a shooting guard or a point guard.
Russell Westbrook drains the triple‼
Lakers are now on a 13-0 run 😤pic.twitter.com/RF4nZJNEkC
— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) December 10, 2022
Who is Russell Westbrook’s Next Team if he is Traded?
| Player | Odds |
| Knicks | +130 |
| Pacers | +300 |
| Jazz | +400 |
| Spurs | +600 |
| Hornets | +800 |
| Nets | +1600 |
| Wizards | +2000 |
| Suns | +2500 |
There is a plethora of teams that could use Westbrook’s vaunted rebirth of potential scoring acumen as they would put him into a starting lineup to accrue his ball-handling and scoring abilities. The New York Knicks (+130) are in a mix of teams that have fallen to potentially not making the playoffs.
New York currently sits at 15-13 and are just two games above 10th spot, currently sitting in the play-in scenario. Pushing Westbrook into a rotation where New York starts Jalen Brunson (20.4 ppg, 6.3 apg) on the point with Quentin Grimes (7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) at the shooting guard could give way to Westbrook in a solid fashion.
The same could be said in Indiana (+300) as Tyrese Haliburton (19.8 ppg, 10.4 apg) starts on the point with Andrew Nembhard (8.9 ppg, 4.0 apg) at shooting guard and then Buddy Hield (17.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) as the small forward.
From the point, Haliburton has shot over 40 percent from the three-point line in all four seasons of his NBA career. He started in Sacramento in the first two years before joining the Pacers last season. Westbrook’s odds would feature an extra shooter in this rotation as it feels like he sets up better with the Knicks and their offensive needs as of now.
Next To Acquire Westbrook
Utah (+400), San Antonio (+600), and Charlotte (+800) are the next group of teams that can make a pitch for Westbrook and advance their potential 2023 destinies. The Jazz are 17-14 and sit at seventh in the Western Conference as that seed would push Utah at least into the play-in round in the West.
Utah (+400) has Jordan Clarkson (20.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Mike Conley (10.1 ppg, 7.6 apg) holding down the backcourt with Malik Beasley (14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Collin Sexton (14.3 ppg, 3.0 apg), who is out with an injury.
LaMelo Ball has played in only four games as the injured point guard. The Russell Westbrook odds seem to be in favor of either team as they both need a veteran superstar to help solidify the movement forward of either team.
Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre, Jr., are a pair of combo guards as Rozier would normally be the shooting guard while Oubre would figure into the 3-guard spot. Dennis Smith, Jr. has been out since Nov. 23 with an ankle injury.
Playoff Bound Teams Could Use an Extra Veteran Superstar
New Jersey (+1600), New Orleans (+1800), and Phoenix (+2500) are likely playoff teams who could use the talent and Experience of Westbrook in their playoff scenarios.
With Kyrie Irving’s unconscionable status, the Brooklyn Nets acquiring Westbrook could be a major plus for them. He and Kevin Durant worked together as a pair of young stars in Oklahoma City. In New Orleans, Westbrook and CJ McCollum would work together as a pair of guards since the Pelicans have talent at the position, but not experience or this type of depth.
Finally, the Suns have one of the NBA’s best one-two punches in the backcourt with point guard Chris Paul beside shooter Devin Booker. With Cameron Payne out of the lineup with an injury, Westbrook could fit into a rotation with Paul, Booker, and then, Payne, once he returns.
The key would be to break down the four guards, including a potential Westbrook, and how Coach Monty Williams and his staff could push the rotation forward.
Can the Lakers Become a Title Contender After Moving Westbrook?
According to most NBA betting sites, the Lakers sit at +3300 odds to win the 2022-23 NBA Championship.
Even if this team could pull off a trade of Westbrook, and that is still a big IF, it would take a lot in return to push the Lakers into title contention.
So, even though this franchise and fanbase are used to competing for titles, a Westbrook trade isn’t going to put them in position to capture the championship this year.
Their lack of overall talent, aging players, and tough Western Conference are major reasons why this franchise will toil in mediocrity until they can rebuild it around Anthony Davis a few years from now.
