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Lakers Rumors: Pros and Cons of Trading for Russell Westbrook

By Cody Williams

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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Apr 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 114-112. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 114-112. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: …Assuming He Re-Signs

Of course, the Lakers being an attractive free agency destination once again after trading for Westbrook hinges on the simple fact that they would have to retain the point guard when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer in 2017.

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Westbrook’s impending free agency is one of the primary reasons why the Thunder are even considering trading him at this juncture in the first place. They just watched the cornerstone of their franchise in Kevin Durant walk out the door and head to the Bay Area and they have nothing to show for it. If that were to happen again in 2017 with Russell Westbrook, that would truly be a blow to the franchise that they might not be able to recover from for years and years as a small-market team. But at the same time, any team that trades for Westbrook doesn’t have the guarantee that he would re-sign, including the Lakers.

This is indubitably the trickiest part about a Westbrook trade not just because there’s no guarantee that the Lakers would have him beyond just this upcoming season, but also because they would have to give up the package that the Thunder are asking which includes players where the Lakers have leverage to keep them around for the foreseeable future in exchange for a superstar that could bolt after just one season. That’s a terrifying notion if you’re the Lakers and one that rightfully brings about apprehension.

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