Lakers pinning blame for Russell Westbrook trade on LeBron James’ agency

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LeBron James is always partially responsible for the roster around him, and that’s no different with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He doesn’t make the final call on trades and signings, but he does have a say.

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James is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Paul is widely considered the most powerful agent in the NBA, with James, fellow Lakers star Anthony Davis, Warriors forward Draymond Green and Bulls guards Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball among Paul’s most notable clients.

There is no secret that James and Paul help build rosters. They did it with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-18, and they’ve been doing it with the Lakers since. Usually, it works out OK.

But this time, well, not so much. Last summer, the Lakers acquired point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in a multi-team trade. Westbrook went on to have his most disappointing season ever, proving to be an uneven fit as the Lakers failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) tries to drive on Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell, left, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

That makes the Lakers this year’s biggest flop, and one of the biggest in NBA history.

For that, the Lakers are internally blaming James, Davis and Paul for pressuring them to make the Westbrook trade in the first place, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Without question, Paul and James played a major role in the Lakers landing Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans a few years back. That worked out OK, as LA won