TROUBLESHOOTER
Westbrook is the quickest fix in the NBA, but Lakers still depend on Davis’ health
The Lakers just became clear favorites to win the 2016 NBA championship.
Russell Westbrook’s birth certificate says he will turn 33 on Nov. 12. LeBron James’ papers say he will turn 37 on Dec. 25. Anthony Davis’ MRIs indicate his legs might be older than either. Officially, he is only 28.
But the trade for Westbrook is red meat to the inhabitants of Lakerland, who strongly believe that every notable player in the NBA is holding one of those buzzers they give out in family restaurants on busy nights. When a table opens up in Los Angeles, the buzzer starts vibrating, the photo shoot gets arranged and here they come.
By contrast, Milwaukee built its championship team with the long haul in mind. It built enough resources to make the crucial Jrue Holiday deal. Khris Middleton was a second-round pick (by Detroit) who played like a Finals legend.
This wouldn’t happen with the Lakers, who aren’t sure they have any second-round picks. They gave up their first pick in this draft, along with Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell, to get Westbrook from Washington, his third stop
in the three previous seasons. Patience also worked for the Phoenix Suns, who made clever drafts, got to within one move of Western Conference checkmate, and then took on Chris Paul.
But the truth is that these prefabricated Big Threes also work, and the Lakers are closer to a title than they were before Friday, despite the used-car smell.
The Miami Heat won two championships and four Eastern Conference titles when James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh conspired their way to Miami. The Lakers won 33 consecutive games and a championship when Wilt Chamberlain joined Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, who retired and whose impact was replaced by that of Gail Goodrich. This year’s Nets had erratic Big Three attendance, like a church choir during the vacation months, but still came within a toeprint of eliminating Milwaukee in the second round. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden will be favored to get to the Finals this season.
It’s not always a disaster like it was with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. The best type of Big Three is the one
that just materializes, like Tim Duncan-Tony Parker-Manu Ginobili, but there are reasons to think this can work.
Westbrook is every bit the physical rulebreaker that James is. Last season, he played 36.4 minutes per game, equaling a career high. He played 65 of 72 games. In a three-year span ending in 2019, Westbrook showed up for 241 of 246.
Ten of the top 11 rebounders in the NBA came from foreign nations in 2020-21. The only American, with 11.5 boards per game, was Westbrook.
He plays every game with the desperation of an 11-year-old who is afraid he won’t get picked for the next one. The Wizards got into the play-in tournament this season only because Westbrook insisted. When it’s February in Detroit and the road trip is nearly over and you’re already locked in (or out of) the playoffs, you need someone with that existential zeal.
Westbrook will also make life uncomfortable for anyone he guards, and the Lakers certainly can use that.
But when the Lakers reach the final minute and really need a basket, who runs the possession? James has made those ball decisions in almost every game he has played, but so has Westbrook, whose mountainous self-belief has led to throwaways and contortions
in the playoffs.
Westbrook has suffered 51 turnovers in his past 13 playoff games, and his teams have lost six of his past seven playoff series.
What we do know is that Lakers management does not agree with fans who smugly wrote off the Bucks-Suns series by saying that Davis’ and James’ injuries made it possible. By making this deal, General Manager Rob Pelinka shows he believes the Lakers were living on an unsustainable edge.
The Lakers will fill the roster holes with grateful, ring-hunting veterans, some of whom can shoot, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they brought back JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard underneath. Westbrook, James and Davis make $121 million next season, but you know the salary-cap rules by now: Whatever you want, you can get. In other words, their pursuit of Sacramento shooter Buddy Hield.
Davis was terrific in 2020, injured when it mattered in 2021. Westbrook’s headlong sprints will thrill the patrons, as will James’ bounceback. Theirs are not the ligaments and muscles that the Lakers’ fate hangs upon.
So hold all tickets until next June and, until then, enjoy the show. And if you’re afraid to drop in on a flick called “Old,” don’t be. No Lakers were harmed during its production.