Los Angeles Lakers: 4 reasons why the Lakers are a bad team right now

Why the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled this season: Russell Westbrook

When news broke that the Lakers had traded for Russell Westbrook, I immediately rolled my eyes. The Lakers did need to make a big-name move last summer; they had a very disappointing season during which LeBron and Anthony Davis were injured for a significant part. It became very apparent that the Lakers needed another playmaker to make up for LeBron’s age and Davis’s unpredictable health.

However, acquiring Westbrook was completely the wrong move.

Westbrook is a terrible outside shooter, and when that’s your point-guard, that’s even more of an issue. If a guard can’t shoot from 3, defenders sag off them, making it harder for the guard’s teammates to attack the paint. This means that Westbrook has to be one on the ball, or his effectiveness takes a major hit.

If Westbrook always has to handle the ball when he’s on the court, that means LeBron can’t handle the ball when he’s on the court with Westbrook, and you’d think you’d want two of your best three players on the floor at the same time.

The Lakers should have gone for Buddy Hield from Sacramento, or Bradley Beal from Washington. Both of those moves would’ve made sense. Both Beal and Hield are great outside shooters who can make their own shot. They are very effective off the ball, which perfectly compliments LeBron and AD.

In the annals of Laker history, the move for Westbrook will not go down as a good one.