Russell Westbrook Rumors: Lakers Haven't Ruled out Waiving PG with Stretch Provision

The Los Angeles Lakers have not ruled out using the stretch provision if they don't find a trade partner.

The Lakers could use some of the savings to retain Monk, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent.

The biggest reason the Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention is the failure of the Westbrook experiment. The most consistently healthy Laker but also the most derided, the 2017 Most Valuable Player failed to mesh on the floor with James and seemed to lose his confidence as the season went on.

What has been an empty season has been overrate by the fact that Westbrook is averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebound and 7.1 assists per game. When he shared the floor with James, defenses showed him no respect when he was off the ball.

The Lakers almost have to trade Westbrook at this point, he is an albatross eating up more than a third of the team's cap, and the fans turned on him months ago.

The idea of stretching him doesn't solve anything Monk is not a future All-Star despite playing well this season. It seems like a mismanagement of funds to eat $15.7 million in dead-cap space to retain a player who doesn't move the needle toward championship contention.

The Lakers are going to have to give up draft picks to get a team that can take on Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.

The stretch provision would save Lakers management some money, but it wouldn't help the basketball team. That is probably not something that will work for the two of them.