This proposed Russell Westbrook-Thunder trade would be great for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers missed the boat on trading Russell Westbrook during the NBA trade deadline but that does not mean that the front office is going to punt on the idea of trading him at all. Now, the focus should turn to potentially trading Westbrook in the offseason in any means necessary.

Regardless of how this season finishes, all of the same problems with Westbrook in LA that exist this season will exist next season as well. Westbrook is getting a pay raise, the luxury tax payments will continue to be absurd and the Lakers won’t be able to bring in quality depth.

Heck, they could even lose the good depth they actually found this year in Malik Monk if they are unable to move off of Westbrook.

Earlier this month we broke down two potential teams who the Lakers could try and trade Russell Westbrook to in the offseason. However, John Hollinger of The Athletic proposed an even better idea. The former NBA executive raised the possibility of the Thunder trading Derrick Favors and another small contract for Westbrook and a future first-round pick.

Westbrook returning to where it all started for him in OKC could be a blessing for him and would absolutely be a blessing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

But could the Los Angeles Lakers actually pull off a Russell Westbrook trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder?

I think so. In fact, the Lakers might have to be the team that has to be convinced to make this trade as they would have to likely send an unprotected (or only top-3 protected) 2027 first-round pick to the Thunder. Personally, I think it is worth it as Westbrook is ruining the title window that the team still has with LeBron James.

The Thunder have made these kinds of trades before and unless they absorb another large contract, I don’t see why they wouldn’t do it again. The team still is not in a position to contend and it is still loading up on capital.

The Thunder need to reach the salary-cap floor as is and Westbrook could help them achieve that. He would raise the floor of the team next year to sell tickets (the Thunder don’t need to outright tank with all of the draft capital that they have). They would be getting a potentially juicy first-round pick just for taking on Westbrook.

If the Thunder were ready to win basketball games then this would not happen. However, they are not quite there yet and they have done these deals before. The city of Oklahoma City also has a soft spot for Russell Westbrook, so it could be a win-win-win for all three parties.

This would give the Lakers ample cap space to sign quality role players around LeBron James and Anthony Davis to actually give the team a chance of winning the championship in 2023.