Russell Westbrook and his agent have parted ways, according to a report.
According to a statement from one of the league's prominent player representatives, there was no longer full alignment with the idea that the former NBA Most Valuable Player should stay with the Lakers for the final year of his contract.
"I think the best option for him is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support Darvin Ham publicly offered," he said.
His standing with the Lakers is uncertain as he enters the final year of a five-year maximum deal. After an inconsistent debut season with the Lakers a year ago, the subject of a trade has been raised. After leaving UCLA as a sophomore in 2008, he became the No. 4 overall pick in the draft by the Seattle Sonics.
"I represented Russell for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only revision-and-extend max contract in history," he said. Russell's rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recent trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers were orchestrated by me.
Each time, a new organization embraced Russell after giving up valuable players and assets. We did it together and we did it well.
With a chance of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they need to add more value with Russell. Russell may have to move on from the new team in order to be traded.
This type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell's value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support Darvin Ham publicly offered." Before he is retired, Russell will show that he is a first-ballot Hall of Fame player.
We are no longer working together due to irreconcilable differences. I hope Russell and his family are doing well.
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