Ever since the 2021-22 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> season came to an end for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-malik-monk-willing-to-take-less-money-to-return-to-the-lakers-1833-20220627-SPD-1833.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, the future of Russell Westbrook with the team was one of the biggest talking points in the league.



Brodie fell short of expectations in his first season with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jeanie-buss-explains-why-she-would-never-sell-the-lakers-622-20220510-SPD-622.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purple and Gold</a>, who failed to make the playoffs. Neither Lakers fans nor Westbrook himself seemed to have enjoyed their first year together, which is why many doubted he would return next season.



However, it looks like he’s ready to opt into a lucrative player option this offseason to stay in California for at least another year. According to Woj, Westbrook has made up his mind.



<h2>Report: Russell Westbrook to pick up $47m option with Lakers</h2>



(Via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN)



“Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook is planning to exercise his $47.1 million option for the 2022-23 season to return to the franchise, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Westbrook’s agent, Thad Foucher, is planning to file the paperwork Tuesday, sources said. Westbrook has a Wednesday deadline on his option.”



It would have been a tough decision for Westbrook to turn down that kind of money, which is why this isn’t exactly a surprise. Now, Darvin Ham will try and get the best out of the former MVP.

Report: Russell Westbrook will opt into $47m option to return to the Lakers - thesportsdrops NEWS

Report: Russell Westbrook will opt into $47m option to return to the Lakers

miniaturas

Changes are expected to be made by the <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">Lakers</a> this offseason after a terrible campaign. There’s not much the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jeanie-buss-explains-why-she-would-never-sell-the-lakers-622-20220510-SPD-622.html">Purple and Gold</a> can take from the 2021-22 NBA season, in which they missed the playoffs.



Even so, there were a <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">few bright spots</a> throughout the year. One of them was Malik Monk, who delivered solid performances — unlike many of his teammates. But now he is a free agent.



However, a return to LA wouldn’t be a bad idea considering how he performed. Having averaged 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, it would make sense if the Lakers bring him back. On top of that, money will not be a stumbling block.



<h2>Money won’t be a problem for Malik Monk to go back to the Lakers</h2>



“They might not be able to pay me as much as I want,” Monk said, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “But I could be here and be way more comfortable as a Laker than going to any other team and they’re paying me $5 million more. So it’s just me trying to figure out what team would really want me.“



However, Monk made clear that he will decide what he considers the best for his future. While he would be glad to suit up for the Lakers again, he is also open to all options.



“I definitely would still want to evaluate things,” Monk added. “You never know what happens. Some other team could come in and hopefully tell me the same thing and maybe I get a little bit more minutes on that team. 



“So it’s just actually me being presented and being able to go out there and do what I do is a priority. That’s the biggest priority: A team that’s just going to let me come in and be myself.”

NBA News: Malik Monk willing to take less money to return to the Lakers - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Malik Monk willing to take less money to return to the Lakers

Back in the day, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-treatment-of-kyrie-irving-may-force-point-guard-to-leave-1125-20220529-SPD-1125.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> formed one of the mightiest duos in the league. During their time together in Cleveland, they led the Cavaliers to their first ever NBA championship.



However, their careers have taken a different direction when Kyrie decided to part ways. While The King eventually won another ring in <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</a>, Irving struggled to challenge for the title.



This offseason, the possibility of Irving joining LeBron’s <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">Lakers</a> is drawing a lot of speculation since Kyrie’s future with the Nets looks uncertain. If you ask Shannon Sharpe, he would love to see them together on the floor again.



<h2>Shannon Sharpe suggests LeBron James, Kyrie Irving should reunite next season</h2>



“Yea, the Lakers should try, but with what? What assets you got other than LeBron and AD? You take Russ? You want Russ? LeBron is a therapist. Think about what he got Kyrie to do, something Kyrie hadn’t been able to do with any other star. … The chemistry that he and LeBron had. We saw what they did together. Went to three NBA Finals, won one,” Sharpe said, via Fadeaway World.



No matter how controversial Irving might be, he would certainly be a massive addition for LeBron and the Lakers. However, this possibility will depend on what the Nets ultimately decide to do with him.

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe wants LeBron James, Kyrie Irving to join forces again - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe wants LeBron James, Kyrie Irving to join forces again

To be successful in the years to come, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-times-has-lebron-james-won-the-nba-mvp-award-151-20220502-SPD-151.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> — headed by <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lebron-james-rings-how-many-nba-championships-has-king-james-won-51-20220501-SPD-51.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> — need to know what their star player has in mind. There is currently no evidence that the small forward will sign a new deal following the 2022-23 season, as per Bleacher Report‘s Eric Pincus.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“The Lakers were paralyzed at the trade deadline without clarity from James, and they remain so,” Pinus said. “The star forward is eligible for an extension on August 4, but most of the team’s moves will need to happen in June and July.”“The Lakers are stuck without a commitment from James, whose contract expires after the 2022-23 season. Competing executives and agents do not expect the team to get clarity from James ahead of the draft and free agency.”<cite>Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report</cite></blockquote>



<h2>How Lakers can convince Lebron?</h2>



At the very least, while he was healthy, James had an MVP-caliber season last year. In the long run, the front office may want to avoid <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/when-could-lebron-james-and-his-son-bronny-play-together-in-the-nba-201-20220503-SPD-201.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relying on him</a> to lead the way since he isn’t getting any younger.



Furthermore, it seems as though The King is unwilling to make a commitment without seeing some progress. That’s why he won’t sign an extension with the Lakers until he sees some progress for them.

NBA Rumors: New Lakers contract likely off table for LeBron James - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: New Lakers contract likely off table for LeBron James

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-hint-at-potential-russell-westbrook-stay-890-20220519-SPD-890.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have signed <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lakers-contemplated-reuniting-kyrie-irving-with-lebron-james-696-20220512-SPD-696.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milwaukee Bucks</a> assistant <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-narrow-head-coach-search-to-three-finalists-968-20220521-SPD-968.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Darvin Ham</a> as their head coach. There were several applicants interviewed by the Lakers before narrowing the field to three finalists: Ham, Terry Stotts, and Kenny Atkinson, the former head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.



According to Shams Charania, Ham beat over more experienced candidates to get a four-year contract as the team’s head coach. During his playing days, Ham was a small forward who had an NBA career that lasted for over 10 years. 



A champion with the 2004 Detroit Pistons and Slam Dunk Contest participant, he has subsequently established himself as an assistant coach. It was with the Lakers that Ham landed his first NBA coaching position after a brief stint in the G League.



<h2>Ham to sign four-year deal with Los Angeles Lakers</h2>



In the three years that he worked under Phil Jackson (2011-2013), he came up just short of guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to their last two NBA titles.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“According to the buzz in NBA coaching circles over the weekend, Ham has likewise been promised the autonomy to pick his coaching staff and is said to have received assurances that Lakers senior advisor Kurt Rambis will not be a regular presence in coaching meetings like he was with Vogel. If those promises come to fruition and Ham actually receives all that latitude, they will rank as significant concessions secured by a first-time NBA head coach.”<cite>Marc Stein of Substack</cite></blockquote>

NBA Rumors: Lakers will employ Darvin Ham as next head coach - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors:  Lakers will employ Darvin Ham as next head coach

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/when-could-lebron-james-and-his-son-bronny-play-together-in-the-nba-201-20220503-SPD-201.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-point-guards-of-all-time-in-nba-107-20220502-SPD-107.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> may have been reunited in Los Angeles had a trade between the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-rings-how-many-nba-championships-have-the-lakers-won-86-20220502-SPD-86.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lakers</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nets</a> took place, according to reports.



To a recent source from SNY‘s Ian Begley, “the Lakers pondered chasing” Irving earlier this season when the Nets benched him for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19.



After Mayor Eric Adams adjusted vaccine requirement limits for athletes and entertainers, Irving was permitted to return to Barclays Center for games in late March after first resuming road games in January.



<h2>How the idea of Irving-James reunion came up</h2>



When Irving and James won the NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Irving demanded a trade and ended up in Boston, where he signed with the Celtics for two seasons before joining the Nets together with <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/kevin-durant-profile-what-is-durants-height-and-weight-255-20220503-SPD-255.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Several outlets, including SNY, reported that the Nets had been open to talking to teams about potential Irving trades during that time. Obviously, nothing came to fruition. But some members of the Lakers organization discussed the possibility of trading for Irving during that stretch of the season, sources say. The deal would have obviously reunited Irving with LeBron James. It’s unclear if the Lakers reached any internal consensus on Irving at the time.”<cite>Ian Begley from SYN</cite></blockquote>

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-this-is-how-quin-snyder-feels-about-lakers-coaching-vacancy-294-20220503-SPD-294.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are one of the most popular, wealthiest, and winningest franchises in sports history. Some of the greatest NBA players of all time have donned the purple and gold, while they’ve seen <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-rings-how-many-nba-championships-have-the-lakers-won-86-20220502-SPD-86.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plenty of success</a> come their way.



The 2021-22 season, however, has been one of the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lebron-james-gets-strong-support-from-lakers-teammate-426-20220505-SPD-426.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">worst campaigns</a> in franchise history. After failing to make the playoffs, the Lakers are expected to make several <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lebron-james-favorite-candidate-may-not-take-over-at-lakers-382-20220504-SPD-382.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes</a> – but not at the ownership.



Jeanie Buss, owner and president of the Lakers, admitted this season was quite disappointing for the team, but made clear she is not considering to sell the team in the short term – and probably never will.



<h2>Jeanie Buss is not even thinking about selling the Lakers</h2>



“In terms of selling the team, I’m not going anywhere. This is exactly what my dad asked me to do,” Buss said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “The team is not for sale,” she added, before expanding on how important leaving this legacy was for his father.



“This was something that was important to him, that he wanted me to keep the Lakers in the family. I like to say, my dad had his children, but the Lakers were his baby, and he put me in charge of the baby, and I will make sure that the baby thrives.”



Dr. Jerry Buss acquired the Lakers in 1979 and went on to oversee the franchise for 34 years, in which the team won 10 championships, before his daughter took over.

NBA News: Jeanie Buss explains why she would never sell the Lakers - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Jeanie Buss explains why she would never sell the Lakers

Frank Vogel was dismissed by the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-why-kobe-bryant-changed-jersey-number-from-no-8-to-no-24-231-20220503-SPD-231.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> after their poor performance in the 2021-22 season. The hunt for a new head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers has been sluggish to start, but it seems to be getting some steam.



Thus, the team has interviewed veteran NBA analyst and former <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-point-guards-of-all-time-in-nba-107-20220502-SPD-107.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> coach Mark Jackson has been, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.



On the other hand, as per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers have also interviewed ex-<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-players-with-most-triple-doubles-of-all-time-214-20220503-SPD-214.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a> coach Terry Stotts.



<h2>Mark Jackson and Terry Stotts add to Lakers’ options</h2>



Three years with the Golden State Warriors ended with Jackson’s dismissal as head coach in 2014. He has a record of 121-109. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr led the team to the NBA championship the season after Jackson’s dismissal.



With the backing of the Lakers, Jackson may return to his position as head coach. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lebron-james-gets-strong-support-from-lakers-teammate-426-20220505-SPD-426.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> would be “extremely excited” if his side hired Jackson, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers interview Mark Jackson and Terry Stotts for coaching position - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers interview Mark Jackson and Terry Stotts for coaching position

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-rings-how-many-nba-championships-have-the-lakers-won-86-20220502-SPD-86.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> come from one of the most disappointing campaigns in <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history in terms of expectations. Despite they entered the season with championship aspirations, they not even made the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-playoffs-format-how-does-the-nba-postseason-work-126-20220502-SPD-126.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">playoffs</a>.



Consequently, the critics have fallen on everyone at the organization, from the front office to the roster. While Frank Vogel and Russell Westbrook seemed to take most of the blame, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lebron-james-favorite-candidate-may-not-take-over-at-lakers-382-20220504-SPD-382.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> has also been singled out.



It didn’t seem fair, though, considering that the Lakers’ season would have been even worse if it weren’t for The King. His haters didn’t seem to care, but Kent Bazemore reminded them why they should show more respect for LeBron.



<h2>Kent Bazemore voices support for LeBron James amid criticism </h2>



“Dude was third in the league in scoring? I mean what else do you want him to do?” Bazemore told TMZ Sports. “He put his body through a lot this year to be there for us. The dude has done a lot, man, I mean he’s chasing Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). 



“He’s done a lot for the game. He’s given a platform to a lot of people. He’s changing the world. So I mean, for him it’s bigger than hoop. For us it’s bigger than hoop. We aren’t just basketball players at the end of the day. So we get up, we work hard, we try to do the best we can, and that’s all we can do.”



At this point, questioning LeBron James simply doesn’t make any sense. At 37, he made clear he still has a lot left in his tank. If the Lakers had any bright spot this season, it was him. However, this is not something new for LeBron, who dealt with all sorts of criticism <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lebron-james-rings-how-many-nba-championships-has-king-james-won-51-20220501-SPD-51.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his entire career.</a>

Los Angeles Lakers

Report: Russell Westbrook will opt into $47m option to return to the Lakers

NBA News: Malik Monk willing to take less money to return to the Lakers

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe wants LeBron James, Kyrie Irving to join forces again

NBA Rumors: New Lakers contract likely off table for LeBron James

NBA Rumors: Lakers will employ Darvin Ham as next head coach

NBA News: Lakers contemplated reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James

NBA News: Jeanie Buss explains why she would never sell the Lakers

NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers interview Mark Jackson and Terry Stotts for coaching position

NBA News: LeBron James gets strong support from Lakers teammate

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