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4 former Russell Westbrook teammates the Lakers could trade for

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Robert Covington

Robert Covington played with Russell Westbrook on the Houston Rockets and represents perhaps the best player that the Lakers could realistically trade for this season. While other contenders could likely come over the top and beat the Lakers’ best offer, that should not stop the team from trying.

If the Lakers are willing to trade Talen Horton-Tucker for Buddy Hield then they should be willing to trade him in a package for RoCo. Granted, the package would certainly have to include future draft capital, including that 2027 first-round pick that the Lakers are holding onto it. Change the protections to just be a top-3 pick and that might be enough to make Portland bite.

The Blazers are entering a mini-rebuild of sorts with the team really struggling this season and Damian Lillard likely missing the rest of the year. While the front office likely does not want to blow the entire thing up, it does make sense to trade an asset like Covington, who is on an expiring contract.

Covington would be absolutely perfect on this Lakers team. He is one of the best three and D forwards in the league and would offer serious lineup flexibility on the Lakers. The team could play him next to Anthony Davis, could play him as the small-ball five and would absolutely use him in crunch time as he does not restrict the floor spacing.

Imagine a closing five of LeBron James, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson, Robert Covington and Anthony Davis (sorry, Westbrook). That closing five has shooting, defense and starpower.

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