Lakers Rumors: Darvin Ham to Have 'More Power' to Bench Russell Westbrook in Games

If the veteran point guard is benched late in games this season, it could lead to another fight between the two teams.

According to league sources, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will be able to bench Westbrook down the stretch of the season. The former head coach did it a number of times. It's possible to remove Westbrook from the starting lineup as well.

It won't be an issue if he's traded before the season, but it hasn't happened yet.

It still feels like a real possibility because of how badly he fit with the Lakers. The 33-year-old averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebound and 7.1 assists per game, fine numbers in a vacuum but a drop-off for a player who averaged at least 21.0 points a game for the prior 11 seasons and won an NBA Most Valuable Player award.

According to NBA.com, the Lakers were outscored by four points per 100 possessions when Westbrook was on the floor.

His appearances on the show didn't happen.

His ball-dominant style and lack of floor spacing made him an awkward fit next to the great man.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the trio of Russell, James and Anthony spoke on the phone during Las Vegas Summer League, with each expressing their commitment to one another and vow to make it work.

That doesn't change the basketball's shape. It's possible that the Lakers' best lineup doesn't include Westbrook, which could cause Ham to experiment with him on the bench late in the game.

It's hard to think that the nine-time All-Star would take that decision well. It's the sort of drama that makes the Lakers such an apt place to call home.