The Los Angeles Lakers continue to aim high for their free agents.
ESPN’s Chris Broussard told MSG recently that the Lakers firmly believe they can lure Russell Westbrook back to southern California as a free agent in the summer of 2017.
“The Lakers think they can sign him,” Broussard said. “And I was talking to some executives yesterday about possible trades they might do or offer. And I was told they think they can sign him as a free agent, so why should they give up anything?”
Westbrook went to UCLA and was born in Long Beach, so there are ties to the area. That would likely be part of the Lakers’ sales pitch if it got that far.
Will it get that far, though? Westbrook has dropped hints that he’s committed to Oklahoma City, and he’s reportedly determined to lead the team, at least in the near term. Plus, the Lakers have been rather delusional in their free agent planning in recent years. The Lakers may well believe they can land Westbrook, but those beliefs may not be realistic.
