Lakers: The only way to trade Russell Westbrook and why it won’t happen

2. The Los Angeles Lakers would have to throw in some sort of compensation

Not only would the Lakers not really gain much in this one-for-one swap but they would have to pay a $1.25 to get back $1. While Westbrook and Wall have two of the worst contracts in the league and it is hard to see the Rockets getting assets for Wall, that is exactly what the Lakers would have to do.

Ask yourself this question: why would the Rockets simply flip Wall for Westbrook? It would be one thing if it was the same situation as before and the team had James Harden and they were looking for another player that might fit better with Harden.

That is not the case. This is a bottom-of-the-barrel basketball team and there is absolutely no difference in having Wall or Westbrook. Maybe the hope would be that Westbrook would come in with a better attitude than Wall but he would still take minutes away from the young players and contradict what the Rockets are trying to accomplish.

That is why a one-for-one swap does not make sense for Houston. The Lakers would have to sprinkle something in to make the Rockets’ interested. Sure, the team could throw in a second-round pick four years in the future and call it a day but I don’t think that is enough for Houston because that pick has no real value.

The Lakers obviously wouldn’t be sending something of huge value but it would have to be something. Maybe that is Sekou Doumbouya, or Austin Reaves, or a future (heavily) protected first-round pick.

It would have to be something. Just look at what Houston got when they traded Westbrook, a future first-round pick. The logic would be the same for the Rockets in this situation.

And even if the asset is not that valuable, the Lakers should absolutely not trade away any assets to go from Westbrook to Wall. They simply have to figure it out.