Ru<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-if-donovan-mitchell-joins-knicks-lakers-might-move-for-julius-randle-2448-20220803-SPD-2448.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ssell Westbrook</a> and Frank Vogel have a running spat about how late in games he should be playing. Westbrook was benched a couple of times by Vogel, who thought other players had earned the right to close out games for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-and-lebron-james-not-close-to-contract-renewal-agreement-2456-20220805-SPD-2456.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers.</a>



The 33-year-old veteran was not happy about it. In the aftermath of one of these incidents, he said, “I earned the right to be in closing lineups.” Soon enough, Vogel was fired from his position.



Darvin Ham, Vogel’s successor, seems to have been given carte blanche to use Westbrook any way he sees appropriate. Hammer has “greater authority to sit Westbrook down the stretch of games” and that “power might ultimately extend to eliminating Westbrook from the starting lineup,” according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. 



<h2>Russell Westbrook-Lakers: Inevitable split?</h2>



According to reports from last season, Vogel was on the verge of making this move, but he held off because he was afraid of losing Westbrook permanently. All indications are that Westbrook and the Lakers are looking to split. 



The Los Angeles Lakers have been publicly trading him for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-trade-rumors-lakers-have-other-targets-besides-kyrie-irving-2269-20220719-SPD-2269.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a>. As of today, any possible trade is stalling. There is nothing the New York Knicks can do to compel a deal for Irving until the issue with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn is settled.

Lakers' coach Darvin Ham to have authority to bench Russell Westbrook - thesportsdrops NEWS

Lakers' coach Darvin Ham to have authority to bench Russell Westbrook

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<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-darvin-ham-has-high-expectations-of-lakers-starstruck-team-1435-20220610-SPD-1435.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have sought to deal with <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-new-lakers-coach-darvin-ham-plans-to-keep-russell-westbook-1379-20220608-SPD-1379.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russell Westbrook</a> since the previous season’s trade deadline, and that hasn’t changed recently. As a player, Westbrook struggled to adjust to a new position with the Lakers, as they finished the 2021-22 NBA season with a 33-49 record, missing the Playoffs.



As difficult as it has been for the Lakers to get rid of Westbrook, a proposal involving the former MVP and the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-kevin-durant-wont-get-involved-in-kyrie-irvings-decision-on-future-1775-20220625-SPD-1775.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> has emerged since the start of open-market free agency. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-shannon-sharpe-wants-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-to-join-forces-again-1692-20220621-SPD-1692.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and Irving had their most successful season together at Cleveland Cavaliers.



Now, Daevin Ham’s side aim to renew their old friendship in order to compete for a title once again. However, while the Lakers’ trade speculations swirl, their head coach remains steadfast in his belief in his present group of players.



<h2>What Darvin Ham said on Lakers’ squad</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We love everyone on our roster. And until you’re not on our roster, you’re ours and we’re going to try to get better with the group that we have. That’s just the bottom line of it. I don’t know a player that’s come through this league in my 26 years that hasn’t had their name part of a trade rumor a time or two. “But, it is what it is. It’s the nature of the beast of our business. And so, again, the guys we have on our roster I’m very thankful for, I’m proud of and we want to maximize everything they can do to help us get to that ultimate goal.”<cite>Ham said to the reporters during the Lakers’ most recent Summer League game</cite></blockquote>

Darvin Ham

Lakers' coach Darvin Ham to have authority to bench Russell Westbrook

New Lakers coach Darvin Ham content with current roster in spite of recent trade rumors

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