Why Russell Westbrook Is Not A Fit With The Lakers

• Russell Westbrook joined the Los Angeles Lakers this past summer to create a "big 3" with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Westbrook currently is +3600 to win the 2022 NBA MVP award.

• There are multiple problems with this trio. Spacing is going to be a huge issue for LA, as Westbrook is one of the worst shooters in the NBA, while LeBron and Anthony Davis aren't exactly lights out shooters either. They each play to each others weaknesses. Westbrook won't have the ball in his hands nearly as often in LA as he did in OKC, Houston or DC.

Lakers Have A Big Time Spacing Issue

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have always been at their best when they're surrounded by great shooters, who can play off of their playmaking abilities. Now they're going to share the court with one of the worst shooters in the NBA. Not a great combination.

A total of 469 players have attempted at least 1,000 3-pointers in their NBA careers. Of those players, only 16 of them have converted 3-pointers at a lower rate than Westbrook, who sits at a terrible 30.5 percent. Westbrook also attempted the second-most shots from midrange last season but hit them only 38.1 percent of the time.

Teams will be defending LeBron and Davis all game while allowing Westbrook to shoot as much as he wants. They'll take their chances and live with his poor shooting percentage.

To make matters worse, Westbrook has always played at his best when he has had shooters around him as well. Neither LeBron nor Davis are that great when it comes to shooting, and it is really hard to imagine it working when the three of them are on the court.

Westbrook Will Have To Change His Game

Westbrook won't have the ball in his hands nearly as often in LA as he did in OKC, Houston or DC, that much is certain. He is going to have to do more of the little things, like setting screens, cutting to the basket and attacking the offensive glass when he needs to. He needs to be a secondary ball-handler, someone who can slash and cut to the basket. That is not the role Westbrook has really ever played, and it will be interesting to see if he can make the necessary changes to help the Lakers win another title.

LA has had a below-average half-court offense in each of the last two seasons, and now have added someone who could mess things up even more for them when the game starts to slows down. That could become a glaring issue for the Lakers in the playoffs, and something they simply can't afford.

The Lakers are currently second on the odds board at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the 2022 NBA Title at +440.