Realistic Steps the Lakers Can Take to Land Russell Westbrook
By Eric Yee
Trading What They Were Going Trade For Westbrook For Another Star
In the scenario above, the Lakers have all the leverage so it’s obvious they would want to exploit the Thunder’s weakness, just like they did with the Bulls when trading for Jose Calderon, but the question that has been floating around is why would Westbrook want to go to a gutted team when he could just go there in free agency.
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While some answers include that the backcourt is currently too crowded with D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson already holding down the perimeter spots, this logic falls short fairly quickly.
Knowing that, if the team is so intent on landing Westbrook, wouldn’t it be wiser to take the road less traveled and use these same pieces — some combination of Russell, Clarkson, Julius Randle and what little picks they do have — in order trade for another star which would help lure Westbrook to LA in free agency next season?
A core of say, Brandon Ingram, Clarkson or Russell, and DeMarcus Cousins has a much higher chance of tickling Westbrook’s fancy than the current rebuilding core the team has right now. Additionally, LA could use this as a selling point when courting him next year, showing that they have the chops to make moves for the greater good.
Even Kevin Durant mentioned that the Lakers are a “couple years away from where [he] wants to be” so it’s not a reach to think Westbrook would have a similar mindset.
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Again, I’m in no way advocating that the Lakers trade members of their young core, out of all the teams in the Association, Los Angeles is one of the teams in the perfect rebuilding position, but if they were to make a move, wouldn’t it make more sense to haul in two superstars as opposed to one?