Lakers: 4 better trades LA should have made over Russell Westbrook trade

The Los Angeles Lakers could have brought DeMar DeRozan home

The Chicago Bulls made the moves in the offseason that the Lakers should have made. In fact, the Lakers could have essentially been a better version of the Bulls if they approached the offseason a certain way. Considering the Bulls are 8-4, the Lakers would probably love to be a better version of the Bulls.

DeRozan was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to Chicago in a sign-and-trade and he was connected to the Lakers as well. DeRozan, an LA native, signed a new three-year deal worth $81.9 million. That might be a bit of an overpay for DeRozan, but it is better than what the Lakers are paying for Westbrook.

DeRozan did not seem like a great fit at the time. He was not someone who I was pounding on the table for during the offseason. He is not a great three-point shooter, instead commanding the mid-range, and is someone who needs the ball lin his hand in some capacity to succeed.

That being said, with how much time LeBron has missed, he would have been a good second playmaker for the team to bring in. While he needs the ball, he definitely does not need it as much as Westbrook.

The team would have needed some floor spacers around DeRozan but that is the same problem they have with Westbrook. And while DeRozan is not a great three-point shooter, he is certainly better than Westbrook.