The Wizards, featuring Bradley Beal and some returnees from last season but also a big stack of new players, are off to a fantastic start in 2021-22. Via the Washington Times:
This offseason, Washington traded Westbrook, reportedly at his request, to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Wizards got Kuzma and a package of other players.
And, perhaps surprisingly, the early returns have been nothing but favorable for the Wizards.
While the Wizards are off to their best start since the 2014-15 season, Westbrook has yet to find his groove alongside stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old’s 18.8 points per game are his lowest scoring average since the second year of his career and he again leads the league in turnovers. Westbrook, with a field goal percentage of 41.1, has shot worse just once — his rookie season.
The Lakers are just 6-5.
“Most people probably thought we lost the trade,” Wizards guard Aaron Holiday said. “But I think we won it.”
Holiday was one of six players the Wizards got in the deal — which ballooned into a complicated five-team swap by the time it was finalized. Of those six players, five were legitimate NBA role players: Kuzma, Holiday, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrezl Harrell.
