TITLE: Lakers Mark Anniversary of 2021 Trade That Brought Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles
SLUG: lakers-acquire-russell-westbrook-from-wizards-2021
CONTENT:
On July 29, 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers overhauled their roster by securing former MVP Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. The deal sent Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the Lakers’ 2021 first-round draft pick to Washington.
General manager Rob Pelinka finalized the trade after an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign left Los Angeles searching for a third star to support LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Before the agreement, James and Davis reportedly met with Westbrook to discuss how the trio could share responsibilities and alleviate the workload whenever one of them was sidelined.
The transaction emerged only hours after widespread reports indicated the Lakers were close to acquiring Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. Harrell had even exercised his player option expecting to be included in that Sacramento package, and Kuzma later confirmed he was told to anticipate a move to the Kings. The Lakers pivoted, however, opting for Westbrook’s playmaking and durability.
Westbrook arrived in Los Angeles fresh off a season in which he averaged a triple-double for the third time in four years and pushed the Wizards to an unexpected playoff berth. His homecoming, though, struggled to gain traction. Chemistry issues, injuries to James and Davis, and Westbrook’s shooting woes led to uneven performances and, at times, boos from the Crypto.com Arena crowd.
The partnership ended on Feb. 9, 2023, when the Lakers shipped Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deadline deal that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves. Los Angeles received D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley, a reshuffle that helped the club surge to the Western Conference Finals later that season.
The 2021 blockbuster remains a pivotal moment in recent Lakers history, illustrating the franchise’s aggressive pursuit of championships and the risks inherent in assembling star-laden rosters.
Source: Lakers Nation
