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Lakers: 2 trades to give Russell Westbrook a new home this summer

Jason Reed|
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during player introductions before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on February 12, 2022 in San Francisco, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during player introductions before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on February 12, 2022 in San Francisco, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers Russell Westbrook
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

2. Los Angeles Lakers trade Russell Westbrook in a three-team deal with Zion Williamson

There are so many draft picks in this trade that it did not fit in our shortcode. We will explain.

This trade might seem absurd on the surface considering it has the New Orleans Pelicans trading away Zion Willamson and getting back Russell Westbrook. Williamson has not played a game this season and is due for his rookie max extension this summer, which will pay him $31.2 million next season.

While Zion was a surefire thing out of college, he has nothing but question marks around him and he does not seem to have any interest in playing in New Orleans long-term. If the Pelicans were smart, they would realize that Williamson is probably going to turn down the rookie max unless you promise to trade him. Sign him to the deal and get assets in return.

He still has value and a team like Dallas is the kind of team the Pelicans should be targeting. Dallas needs a running-mate for Luka Doncic and the idea of Doncic and Zion together will convince the Mavericks that they will dominate the league for years to come.

The Mavericks have the contracts to send in return for Williamson’s rookie max but why should the Pelicans stop there? Instead of getting Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans and letting them be role players on a bad team, the Pelicans can flip the two players (who have two years left on their deal after this season) for one season of Westbrook.

The Pelicans would accomplish two things in the process. First, they would be getting two more draft picks in the process as the Lakers would be sending an unprotected first in 2027 and a pick swap in 2028. Second, they would get someone to sell tickets in 2022-23 and convince fans to come out and see Westbrook, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram.

This is an ownership that absolutely cares about tickets sales.

All in all, the Pelicans would be getting seven draft picks for a guy that has not played this season and probably has no interest in staying with the team at all. On top of the unprotected first in 2027 and the pick swap in 2028, the Pelicans would get an unprotected pick in 2022, 2025 and 2027 with a pick swap in 2026 from Dallas.

Meanwhile, the Lakers get two role players to add to the depth of the team and free up $13 million in the process.

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