Darvin Ham: Westbrook Trade 'Gutted' Lakers Depth

Merlin sees Milwaukee assistant Darvin Ham peeling back the curtain on his Lakers tenure: bringing Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles “pretty much” forced the team to “gut” its roster — parting with Alex Caruso, KCP and Kyle Kuzma — because three max-level salaries squeezed out reliable depth. Ham called Westbrook “one of the most professional guys I’ve ever been around,” but added that financial constraints left the Lakers with complementary pieces that weren’t elite enough to chase another title. Merlin senses a lesson: star power can dazzle, but championships demand balance. The Lakers have since rebuilt real depth around LeBron and new pieces, proving the old trade wasn’t a blueprint but a warning. The question now is whether the lure of a marquee name will ever tempt them away from sustainable construction.