The relationship is finally over. The two sides just fundamentally disagreed on how to move forward, so the only option left was to call it quits.
No, we're not talking about Russell Westbrook and the Lakers. We're talking about Westbrook and his longtime agent, Thad Foucher.
The public nature of their divorce sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, as Foucher has represented Westbrook since he was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Foucher is also known for operating behind the scenes rather than being in the public eye, so the public statement that he shared with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was quite stunning.
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Why Russell Westbrook, Thad Foucher parted ways
Foucher said that he decided to part ways with Westbrook because of "irreconcilable differences," suggesting that Westbrook disagreed with him about how he should handle the upcoming season in Los Angeles.
Here is Foucher's full statement, per Wojnarowski:
I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history. I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell's behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell — and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.
Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout.
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, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.
Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best.
Westbrook has not addressed Foucher's statement, only liking a tweet saying that the split had "nothing to do with the Lakers situation."
Has absolutely nothing to do with the Lakers situation. That's 🧢.
— Noah (@__Rajaa) July 16, 2022
The nine-time All-Star, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, is expected to hire a new agent "in the short-term future," according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
What does this mean for Russell Westbrook's future with the Lakers?
Perhaps Foucher's version of events isn't the complete truth — again, we haven't heard Westbrook's side of the story. It certainly paints an unflattering picture of the former MVP, though, and additional reporting seems to back up Foucher's claims.
During a recent appearance on "The Athletic NBA Show," Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha detailed how Westbrook has consistently failed to take accountability for his poor play and refused to adjust at this stage of his career. He pointed to Westbrook's awkward exit interview — he shifted a lot of the blame away from himself and toward Frank Vogel and the coaching staff — and his interactions with the team during the 2021-22 season.
"From stuff I heard last season, during film sessions, he would push back on stuff that was very obvious, like, 'Hey, you missed this defensive rotation,'" Buha said. "He did not like being the center of attention in those film sessions and stuff like that."
Can new Lakers coach Darvin Ham convince Westbrook that he must adapt to a new role? Maybe, but if Westbrook didn't accept advice from Foucher, who was by his side for more than a decade, why would he listen to anyone else?
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Despite Ham publicly supporting Westbrook and LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook reportedly reaffirming their commitment to one another, it's clear that Los Angeles is open to trading the 33-year-old guard. There have been plenty of rumors floating around, but as Foucher noted, other teams don't view Westbrook as a positive asset.
The Lakers "must add additional value" in order to end the Westbrook experiment. They have reportedly been hesitant to include their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in a Westbrook trade, but they may have to let them go if they are committed to dealing Westbrook and his $47 million salary.
If Los Angeles is unable to move Westbrook before the start of the 2022-23 regular season, the front office will either have to trust Ham to navigate an uncomfortable situation or, as Buha put it, "do a John Wall in Houston." In that scenario, Westbrook would simply stay away from the team until the Lakers could negotiate a trade or buyout.
It's impossible to know what will happen next in Los Angeles, but at this point, it wouldn't be shocking to see Westbrook part ways with his agent and the Lakers in the same offseason.
