Lakers showing regret in Russell Westbrook with interest in Ben Simmons

The Los Angeles Lakers made the biggest trade of the offseason by trading for Russell Westbrook. Now, with nearly half a season worth of games being played, it is pretty safe to say that it was the worst move of the offseason as well.

While there are certainly some Westbrook fans who will come to his defense, the trade has significantly hurt the Lakers. Not only does he not fit well in his new team, but is seriously restricted everything else the Lakers could do with the roster. That is why the team has been disappointing.

The Lakers do not have many outs this season yet Shams Charania of the Athletic still reported that they were one of the teams interested in trading for Ben Simmons. This feels like something that the Klutch side leaked out to get leverage, but if the interest is legitimate, then it is pretty clear that the Lakers are regretting that Westbrook trade.

How interest in Ben Simmons shows that the Lakers regret the Russell Westbrook trade:

We already broke down why a Ben Simmons trade is not going to ultimately happen but if it were to happen then it would take trading Russell Westbrook. The Lakers would have to trade one of Westbrook, LeBron James or Anthony Davis and we can say with certainty that the Lakers will not trade LeBron or AD.

The Lakers would have to trade Westbrook and whatever assets for Simmons. The 76ers would never take this deal as Westbrook would not improve the team while other potential deals would. Westbrook would be an awful fit in Philly and the 76ers are better off taking three role players than taking Westbrook.

The Lakers do not have the contracts to even make this possible otherwise. Trading Westbrook would be the only way and the fact that the team is potentially interested shows that they are already mulling over the ways in which they can pivot off of Westbrook as soon as possible.

Can you blame them? The results have not been great and Westbrook gives the team no flexibility. The team cannot even go back to the drawing board in the offseason. Westbrook is going to make $47 million next season and LA will have to continue signing veteran minimum players and continue being disappointing.

Simmons is an elite defender and while he has his issues offensively, he is still one of the 25-30 best players in the league. He would obviously be an improvement in LA but the fact that the purple and gold are even mentioned when his trade value is at an all-time low should tell you all you need to know.

If anything, this is more telling about the Los Angeles Lakers’ potential future plans than it is the Philadelphia 76ers’ future plans. Rob Pelinka made a terrible mistake and he knows it.