Realistic Steps the Lakers Can Take to Land Russell Westbrook
By Eric Yee
Here are a few things the Los Angeles Lakers can do to put themselves in a prime position to land Russell Westbrook in the near future
Before getting started, it must be emphasized that I fully understand the rationale for why the Los Angeles Lakers should be patient and wait before rashly trading for Russell Westbrook.
In short, with the way the landscape of the current NBA is setup, the Lakers are in a perfect spot to rebuild their fallen empire. Seeing that, if all things go according to plan, a Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors showdown in the NBA Finals is set for the next few seasons, the young core will benefit from the bright spotlights of the NBA finally being directed elsewhere.
With expectations low, the only place to go is up for the Purple and Gold, if they stand pat. Similar to the Minnesota Timberwolves, having a core lineup under the age of 25 spells trouble for the rest of the league down the line.
Durant on Lakers: "I really respect their team, but I think they're a couple years away from where I want to be."
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) July 18, 2016
The rationale remains, why trade your young players for Westbrook, who mind you is only 27, without a guarantee of him re-signing and waste his prime waiting for the super teams to slowly dismantle, especially when you can sign him in free agency next season? The answer is simple, you don’t.
But sadly, based on organization’s history of impatience, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did just that. The prospect of having a homegrown superstar to replace Kobe Bryant may be too tempting to turn down for LA’s shortsighted owners.
I’m in no way advocating the trading of our young core but if you’re completely sold on trading for Westbrook this season, this is definitely a must read for you. Here’s a much better contingency plan for eventually landing Russell Westbrook.
Next: Delay Trading For Westbrook This Season