Lakers Better Off With Role Players Over Russell Westbrook, Says Vet Coach

Los Angeles -- The Los Angeles Lakers have taken the first step towards picking up the pieces, naming Darvin Ham as their new head coach.

However, the franchise may have more woes ahead as they try to figure out the composition of their team for the 2022-23 NBA season.

At the top of the list is Russell Westbrook.

Owed big money next season, the chances of him being traded are not looking good. Hence, the Lakers factored in the case of the 2017 NBA MVP as a requirement for their next coach.

While that would make sense, Ham may have his work cut out for him.

Fitting in Westbrook to play smoothly with LeBron James and Anthony Davis was hardly seen last season, and Los Angeles could struggle to try to make that work once more.

Not all are amenable to seeing Westbrook back in Los Angeles. Pundits have given their take, and one of them is former Continental Basketball Association(CBA) coach Chris Daleo when he appeared on the Sports for All PH podcast hosted by Vincent Juico and Brian Yalung on Sunday, June 5.

Daleo was happy for Ham getting his first head coaching gig and is hoping that all goes well.

However, he feels that Ham and the Lakers may be in a fix if Westbrook remains on the Lakers’ roster.

“Four teams in four years should tell you all you need to know about Russell Westbrook. He puts up great numbers, but he bogarts plays,” Daleo stated.

“You might have something you want to get accomplished on the court. You might be working or working against the player and you want the ball to go to certain spots. I think he overdribbles, over-maximizes the ball. He has great passion, great stats and I know he wants to win. But I think its tough."

Being a veteran coach in the CBA and also in various national teams, Daleo knows what a team needs to succeed.

In his eyes, one only has to look at the success of James when he won titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers.

He singled out the cases of Matthew Dellavedova and Alex Caruso.

Especially in the case of Caruso, Daleo feels that opting not to keep the 28-year-old guard and then adding Westbrook were not a good idea.

“Look at those two players and the success that LeBron had with those two. You get rid of them and bring in a Russell Westbrook -type of player, I’m not sure that is a good match,” Daleo shared.