Tension had been rising inside the Lakers’ locker room with James’ scoring record, the team’s inconsistency and the trade deadline looming, as demonstrated by the silent, awkward atmosphere before and after losses in New Orleans and against Oklahoma City – the latter despite James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And I’ll make sure I’m ready and professional, like I always have been and always will be.” My dad taught me that at that age, getting to this league is a business, and people make whatever decision they make. Like I said, I’ve known this was a business since I was 18, 19 years old, since I got into it. I do not,” he said Saturday when asked if trade rumors affected him. Those developments being so public naturally affected Westbrook, though he denied it publicly. The Lakers explored trading him at the 2022 trade deadline before more seriously considering it last offseason in potential deals with Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving and Indiana for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. Westbrook’s exit was nearly a year in the making. Los Angeles was 22-22 in the 44 games that LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook played together across two seasons, a subpar record for a trio of Top 75 players and future Hall of Famers still producing at high levels. The trade ends Westbrook’s disastrous tenure with the Lakers – a homecoming marred by his awkward fit on and off the court, and multiple injuries to the Lakers’ two other stars. Both sides were ready to move on from an imperfect partnership. Lakers coaches had grown frustrated with Westbrook’s recent behavior, and he was known to be upset with being openly mentioned in trade discussions. ![]() Two sources described the situation as “toxic.” And while Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was known to be against the idea of waiving Westbrook, sources say there was a strong sense from the coaching staff that it might be necessary if no trade was forthcoming. ![]() The situation had become untenable over the past week or so, multiple team and league sources close to the situation told The Athletic, all of whom were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely. The Lakers believe there is an addition-by-subtraction element to dealing the nine-time All-Star.
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