Lakers Rumors: Pros and Cons of Trading for Russell Westbrook

Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Pro: He’s Russell Freakin’ Westbrook

This is the most obvious pro when it comes to a Westbrook trade, but it’s something that has to be mentioned. The reason that the Lakers would even consider giving up a king’s ransom for the Thunder point guard is because he’s a completely unique talent that can’t fully be replicated by any other player in the league, much less by anyone at his position.

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When the age-old question of “which player would you want to start a franchise with?” is asked to many NBA fans, Russell Westbrook is one of the players often mentioned and rightfully so. Though he’s far from your traditional point guard, the number of players in the league that offer the array of skills that Westbrook does when he’s on the floor are few and far between. As stated, there are certainly no other point guards in the league that can affect the game in quite as many ways and at the level that Russ can.

Subsequently, the Lakers adding that player to their roster and putting him on the floor in Purple and Gold instantly changes things for them in that they have a matchup on the floor that they’re going to win 99 times out of 100. Given the way that the last few seasons have gone and the fact that the young core is still developing, that’s not something that they have or have had recently—which is the primary reason why a trade might be enticing.

Next: Con No. 1

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