The Los Angeles Lakers absolutely stole the spotlight from the NBA Draft by acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. In a move that many in the Lake Show Life universe thought was impossible (EXCEPT FOR ONE!) was pulled off officially a few picks into the draft. In a special analysis breakdown, Lake Show Life writer Ronald Agers turns over the debate to two longtime readers…McKinley Webb and Ricky Welch.
Now with this blockbuster deal the “Young Core” era is finally over. Two years after the Los Angeles Lakers traded nearly every member of the young core to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma’s exodus closed the book on the rebuilding era for good.
Lakers receive Westbrook to team up with LeBron and AD -- along with two future second-rounders. Washington receives some strong rotational pieces and the No. 22 pick tonight, giving GM Tommy Sheppard the ability to continue improving the Wizards organically and flexibly. https://t.co/N0HMSzE0Ci
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021
The only ones more shocked than most of the readers and the staff of Lake Show Life (This writer at the top of the list!) is the Sacramento Kings and Buddy Hield, who thought they had the inside track on a deal literally 15 minutes before the Westbrook deal started to gain steam.
Adrian Wojnarowski…15 MINUTES before the Westbrook deal…
"With Harrell opt-in, Lakers are able to to move toward completing a deal to acquire Kings guard Buddy Hield for forward Kyle Kuzma and Harrell, sources tell ESPN."
This is yet another example of why it is almost a waste of time and brain matter trying to figure out what Rob Pelinka is trying to do when he makes deals. Just sit back and be patient and see what happens. Speaking of the deal, let’s look at the finished product.
The Los Angeles Lakers received:
- Russell Westbrook and that $44 million salary!
- 2024 and 2028 second round picks.
The Washington Wizards received:
- The rights to Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
- The rights to the No. 22 pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft which turned out to be Isaiah Jackson (Kentucky), who traded the draft rights to the Indiana Pacers for Aaron Holiday.
The Los Angeles Lakers go back to their blueprint of bringing in yet another superstar in Russell Westbrook to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis to form their “Big 3”. The Lakers now have a nine-time All-Star point guard that has averaged a triple-double in a season four times in his career, including this past season.
Last year, Westbrook averaged 22.2 points,11.7 assists (Led the NBA!) and 11.5 rebounds carrying the Wizards to the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Now he moves on to a Lakers team looking to bounce back after a disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. Russ continues to make history by being the only MVP to be traded three times.
Westbrook can help the Lakers with playmaking that Dennis Schroder was originally supposed to provide. The Lakers ranked 18th in points per game created off assists in 2020-21. Westbrook led the NBA three of the past four seasons in that category. The year he missed the top spot was due to spending a year with James Harden in Houston.
It’s the Los Angeles Lakers ladies and gentlemen, any deal that comes out of Lakers Nation will bring an opinion like these on the Fox Sports Radio Show starring Rob Parker and Chris Broussard…
📺@RobParkerFS1: "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's desperate. Russell Westbrook to the Lakers doesn't fit...Don't the Lakers need some SHOOTING??"
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) July 29, 2021
📺@Chris_Broussard: "If they're healthy, you give them a puncher's chance but it is potentially volatile as all get out!" pic.twitter.com/W2RmuK2ynv
Rob Parker called the move desperate. A statement that our editor, Jason Reed co-signed on immediately after the deal went down.
Lake Show Life always claimed to have a collection of the most intelligent Lakers fans on the internet and the conversation Parker and Broussard had above was going on last weekend. The debates on if the Lakers were (Or could!) bring Westbrook in the fold was so intense, we decided to bring two long time readers into the fold.
McKinley Webb (Aka Kinfolk) and Ricky Welch (Aka Slick) debated on this subject for days over multiple articles and we will combine their opinions with the usual in-depth analysis.
This trade has all of the flash of any Hollywood production, but what about substance? Before we get to the hardwood, let’s break down the next hottest debate on Lake Show Life…the price. You know how the old saying goes…”You have to pay to play”. Let’s see how much.