Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham is considering lineups that would include both Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley in the backcourt, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein:
Ham is entering his first season as L.A.'s head coach after the team parted ways with Frank Vogel. He is trying to turn around a 33-49 team that finished 11th in the Western Conference last year.
Beverley is among the new faces aboard after the Lakers acquired him from the Utah Jazz for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson on Aug. 25.
The Lakers acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards during the 2021 offseason. Westbrook had just averaged a triple-double en route to leading the Wizards to the playoffs.
However, Westbrook struggled in purple and gold last year, to the point where he posted career-low figures in player efficiency rating and win shares, per Basketball-Reference.