Los Angeles Lakers: 1 summer trade target from each lottery team

By Jason Reed | Mar 20, 2022

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 12: Kenrich Williams #34 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on February 12, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

New York Knicks: Derrick Rose (and other contracts)

If there is one team that could actually convince itself of trading for Russell Westbrook this offseason it is the New York Knicks. The Knicks are not the best-run franchise and absolutely could be desperate for a star after a disappointing season.

Not only that, but the Knicks have several mid-sized contracts that are not the best that the team might want to move off of. If that is the case, the Knicks could trade several of these contracts to LA for a big expiring contract in Westbrook to open up cap space for the following summer.

A potential trade package if this happened would be Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier and Alec Burks for Russell Westbrook and a future first-round pick. The Lakers trade Westbrook for more depth, which is needed, and hope to run it back with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the stars.

The Knicks get off of several contracts and open up cap space for the 2023 summer to pursue someone such as Bradley Beal. New York is not a title contender anyway, so trading for Westbrook is not as harmful for the team.

They get cap space, a future first-round pick and can sell some tickets with Westbrook at Madison Square Garden. This is the one and perhaps the only team that might actually take on Westbrook.

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