Westbrook was last year's scapegoat, this season's scapegoat could get traded

Russell Westbrook didn't work for the Lakers and wasn't the right fit for the team, still, he became the scapegoat for the organization and coaching staff, this season, the fans and Darvin Ham have found their new scapegoat in D'Angelo Russell.

Despite the point guard being one of the best players on the roster, his inconsistency in 3-point shooting has the fans wanting him to be traded, despite the fact he is the best playmaker currently in the team and his presence helped in the games that have been won.

Unlike Russell Westbrook, D'Angelo Russell has every metric that anyone could go by, including the actual eye test, which suggests he is needed by the team and doesn't fit the same narrative as the former point guard.

If the Lakers trade him, it doesn't matter who arrives, LaVine, Murray, or another star, the real problem will continue to be coach Darvin Ham and his lack of sense by having the continuity the organization bet on the offseason.

Ham isn't worried about losing his job and keeps experimenting

Owner Jeanie Buss and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka have informed the second-year head coach that his job is not in jeopardy, sources say. That assurance from the top has allowed Ham to purely focus on redirecting his team. “I speak to Rob every day, and we’re always discussing ways to improve our team and what we can do better as a coaching staff,” Ham told B/R after falling to 19-20 on the season. “It’s an open dialogue that I embrace and that is helpful. We’re all trying to get this right, and we will.”