Lakers to bring Russell Westbrook off bench in final preseason game: report

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The situation in Los Angeles regarding Lakers guard Russell Westbrook’s role in the final year of his contract has been brewing for some time. 

Westbrook, who opted-in to his $47.1 million player option during the offseason, is coming off a difficult first season in LA, with the guard averaging his lowest point totals since his second season in the league while shooting just 29.8% from beyond the three-point line as the Lakers went 33-49 and missed the playoffs. 

Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 9, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the addition of Patrick Beverley in August, the question of who will start for the Lakers during the regular season has been bandied about. 

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In the Lakers’ final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings Friday night, Westbrook will come off the bench in a move that could spill into the regular season, according to ESPN. 

First-year head coach Davin Ham has reportedly engaged in conversations with Westbrook about being the sixth man off of the bench and leading the Lakers' second unit. 

"It's different combinations of seeing different guys play together," Ham said Thursday when discussing the Lakers different preseason lineups. 

Russell Westbrook, #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers, runs onto the court before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 12, 2022 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

"You have to prepare yourself. You got to get out in front of the fact that there's going to be