Los Angeles Lakers should bench Russell Westbrook if Anthony Davis returns

The Los Angeles Lakers should bench Russell Westbrook if Anthony Davis returns this season. 

If LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers truly believe that they have a chance to be dangerous as a 7th or 8th seed in the postseason, there is only one way they should get one more shot this season.

And that’s by benching Russell Westbrook. Even more so by pairing that move with an expected return of Anthony Davis.

For now, it’d be tough to bench Russ completely. Without AD in the lineup, it would be difficult for the Lakers to replace the type of production he brings – even if, overall, it equates to a negative one for the team.

Still, benching nearly 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists per game is not the brightest of ideas. And doing so without Davis in the lineup would be even sillier. However, if Davis does return at some point over the next couple of weeks, that move should be paired by benching Russ.

It’s clear that Russ has not fit on this team at all this season and it’s finally time to rectify that mistake by giving AD and LeBron one more shot – without the poison pill that is Russ.

And this is not a diss on Westbrook. He’s clearly still a productive player in the NBA. He’s just not a positive player for the Lakers. And that’s OK.

I just don’t believe that the Lakers should continue to try to run through a brick wall when the combination of Russ on this team hasn’t worked for the first three-quarters of the season. It doesn’t make sense to try and force it now.

It’s pretty clear that Russ is not going to be on this team next season, so there’s really no downfall of benching him for the remainder of this season.

I think LeBron and AD deserve a chance to salvage this season. But it needs to come without Russ in the lineup.