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Lakers: Ranking the likelihood of each star leaving LA this summer

By Jason Reed

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: (L-R)LeBron James #6, Anthony Davis #3, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the sideline during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: (L-R)LeBron James #6, Anthony Davis #3, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the sideline during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Chance of Russell Westbrook leaving the Lakers: 75%

The no. 1 goal for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer is to trade Russell Westbrook, regardless of what Westbrook says about the plan being to return to the Lakers next season. The root of almost all of the Lakers’ issues last season was Westbrook being on the team as he simply did not fit and was the reason why the depth was horrible in LA.

Westbrook has a $47.1 million player option for next season that he is absolutely going to accept after his comments about his plan. While that was always the most likely outcome, there was some hope that his basketball ego would get in the way and he would think that he still was worth a big deal as a free agent.

There are two paths the Lakers can try to take to get rid of Westbrook this summer. The first is obviously a trade, and as it stands right now, that feels like a coin-flip proposition. While Westbrook was bad last year and has a horrible deal, there is always a trade to make in the NBA.

It may not seem like it now but there will be another team that wants to pivot off of a multi-year contract and is willing to take on one year of Westbrook. Heck, Marc Stein recently reported that the Charlotte Hornets are a potential candidate that could take Westbrook on in a trade.

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If that does not happen then the other 25% is the chance of the Lakers simply cutting ties and not play him. His cap hit would still be an issue so this is less than ideal, but the Lakers could pull a Rockets and simply ask him not to play, hoping they can work out a deal later in the season at some point.

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