3 Los Angeles Lakers the Charlotte Hornets need to sign in free agency
![Apr 7, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) sits on the bench before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Apr 7, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) sits on the bench before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/638e4204620525509a738177844529d264462ca6d30cdaadcf8b2dbc43879d84.jpg)
Westbrook is the difficult one. He will likely opt in to his $41.4 million for this season; he would be foolish not to. The only problem is that he is not worth that much at this point in his career. While the Lakers may want to trade him (he has been linked to the Hornets throughout the year), that salary hit is going to be difficult to move.
Although Westbrook is coming off of one of the worst seasons of his career, he could still provide value for a Hornets team that is simply looking to make the playoffs in 2022-23.
His somewhat-declining athleticism coupled with his inefficiency may not make him a perfect fit for Charlotte’s run-and-gun setup, but he is a Hall-of-Famer who should still have a little left in the tank.
dark. Next. Malik Monk, Avery Bradley