Although we are now one preseason game into the 2022-23 campaign (with the Lakers still working on a nice seven-game losing streak in these exhibition games dating back to last season), it still feels a little surreal that Russell Westbrook is still on the team.
However, that’s just the reality that the Lakers and we fans will have to accept, at least for now. Even if The Athletic has reported that a trade involving Westbrook could still happen at some point this year.
And although the ceiling that this team could reach will always be limited given the poor fit of the Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis trio, their floor can certainly be higher than last season’s results that saw the Lakers finish 11th in the Western Conference.