Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook plans to exercise his $47.1 million player option for 2022. The 33-year-old Westbrook’s decision to opt into the final year of his contract comes a day after the Lakers were reported to have mutual interest in a potential acquisition for Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. Irving then announced late Monday that he also plans to exercise his $36 million player option for 2022.  The NBA’s contract option deadline is at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday. The NBA’s free agency period starts at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Westbrook, a 14-year veteran, averaged 18.5 points per game last season – his lowest total since 2009-10. He joined the Lakers last August in a trade from the Washington Wizards, where he had averaged 22.2 points, 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds per game in 2020-21 for Washington. He also averaged a triple double for his 2016-17 NBA MVP campaign and the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons when he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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