Yang Yi hit the soul and asked: Who is the driving force behind Westbrook joining the Lakers?

Recently, the words of the well-known basketball commentator Yang Yi brought the heavy deal of Westbrook to the public in 2021. Yang Yi said bluntly: "I really ask him, who decided to go to the Lakers when you went to the Lakers? Do you understand after you go? Who changed you to the Lakers, who made this suggestion..." This question also aroused heated discussions among fans about the past of the Lakers.

Time goes back to August 2021, and the Lakers sent out the signing rights of Pope, Kuzma, Harrell and the 22nd pick in the first round Isaiah Jackson, and exchanged the Wizards for Westbrook and two second-round picks (2024, 2028). The big deal participated by multiple parties shocked the league. At that time, the Lakers' calculation was that Westbrook's strong physical fitness and breakthrough ability could not only share the pressure of James holding the ball, but also improve the offense and defense strength of the backcourt. The three giants formed by James and Davis are aimed at the championship.

But reality is cruel. Westbrook's style of playing is incompatible with the Lakers system. Problems such as ball rights allocation and on-court space are constantly exposed, and the team's record has not met expectations. In the year and a half in the Lakers, Westbrook experienced a transition from starting to substitute, but was eventually traded and left the team.

As for who is driving Westbrook to join the Lakers, there have been many different opinions. Some people say that James put pressure on the management to promote the transaction in order to pursue the championship; some people think that the Lakers management value Westbrook's star effect and data ability and actively promote it. Previously, James's agent Ritchie Paul came forward to clarify that although James was asked for his opinion, he was not the dealer, and the deal was the management's decision. Perhaps only Westbrook himself clearly answers the questions raised by Yang Yi. No matter who was behind the scenes, Westbrook's deal to join the Lakers has left an indelible memory for the Lakers, Westbrook and fans, and has also become a classic case worth discussing in the history of NBA trading.