Many speculated that Russell Westbrook would find a new team after a disastrous first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, he is finding a new agent.
Lakers baseman and longtime agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman have parted ways amid a controversial low season, Foucher told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
Foucher had represented Westbrook since the beginning of his NBA career, beginning with his fourth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft and through his MVP-winning Thunder tenure and exchanges at the Houston Rockets, Washington. Wizards and Lakers. To date, he has earned $ 288 million in NBA salary, per Spotrac.
Where Westbrook and Foucher apparently differed is what they thought was best for Westbrook this offseason. In a lengthy statement to ESPN, Foucher said another change would be detrimental to Westbrook’s value and that his best option is to stay with the Lakers, which seems to imply that Westbrook wants to leave Los Angeles.
Foucher described the situation as “irreconcilable differences.”
The Lakers are likely to disagree with Foucher, despite public insistence from new head coach Darvin Ham that he can fix the base. The team has recently been chasing a trade between Westbrook and Kyrie Irving, but that move has not materialized, as the teams disagree on the compensation. Foucher implies the Lakers have a responsibility to add value to get a team to take on Westbrook’s $ 47 million contract this offseason.
Here is the statement, via ESPN.
Full statement from Russell Westbrook’s ex-agent
“I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and I am proud of our partnership, which included a very successful project in 2008, a super-max contract and the only maximum renegotiation and extension contract in history. I also gave support Russell during his rise as a prominent figure in the fashion industry and recently orchestrated three successive trades on behalf of Russell, culminating in trade in his hometown, the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Each time, the teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell, and each time, a new organization accepted his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.
The story goes on
“Now, with the possibility of a fourth change in four years, the market is telling the Lakers that they need to add value with Russell in any business scenario. And even then, that change may require Russell to move immediately to the new one. equipment by buying and selling.
“My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, accept the title role and the support that Darvin Ham offered publicly. Russell is a player of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in first ballot, and will prove it again before retiring.
“Unfortunately, there are irreconcilable differences as to their best way forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the best.”
Such a strong statement of opinion about a former player is rare and indicates how tenuous Westbrook’s place in the NBA is right now. He saw his stats worsen almost across the board while playing alongside LeBron James, and now it seems no team is interested in him for his current salary.
Russell Westbrook likes the tweet that says the Lakers agent’s statement is false
It wasn’t long after Foucher’s statement that Westbrook was seen liking a tweet that said “It has absolutely nothing to do with the Lakers’ situation. [cap]. “
So Westbrook might have some ideas on how his agent handled his divorce.
Screenshot of Russell Westbrook’s likes on Twitter, with a tweet saying “It has absolutely nothing to do with the Lakers’ situation. [cap]. “(Twitter)
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times also reported that Westbrook has never requested a change from the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Rich Paul, who represents James and Anthony Davis and supposedly wanted Westbrook to change in the middle of last season, had some thoughts as he watched from afar, thoughts James agreed with.
There really isn’t a week out of danger for the Lakers news.
Russell Westbrook is looking for a new agent and probably a new team. (Photo by Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)