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Lakers: Building a Russell Westbrook trade package to the Hornets

By Jason Reed

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks over the court as he is guarded by LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of the game 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: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks over the court as he is guarded by LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of the game 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

The trade package to get Russell Westbrook to Charlotte:

To make the money match, the Los Angeles Lakers would take on both Gordon Hayward and Mason Plumlee. Hayward is slated to have a $30 million cap hit next season while Plumlee has a $9 million cap hit, which actually saves the Lakers $7.9 million next season.

Hayward is under contract for two more seasons after this season and has a $31.5 million cap hit in the 2023-24 season while Plumlee is on an expiring deal. In the trade, the Lakers also pick up a second-round pick to use for depth this season, trading a future first to get off of Westbrook as well.

However, since the Lakers are taken on Hayward in return, they have the luxury of protecting the pick for the lottery in case there is a repeat season like this one.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers could say yes:

Gordon Hayward is overpaid and some fans might be scoffing at the idea of the Lakers paying $30 million for a guy who is no longer in his prime. However, the important thing here is the fit with the Lakers. Hayward would operate just fine as an off-ball third scoring option that can shoot threes as well as slash to the rim.

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Playing with LeBron and AD could really elevate Hayward’s game back to a similar level that it was in Utah. Sure, he would be a bit overpaid, but he is still in his young 30s and is not going to regress because of age. Just in terms of fit, Hayward makes much more sense.

The Lakers would still have issues in filling out the roster but at the very least the team would have a smaller luxury tax bill and would have one traditional center on the roster in Plumlee, which is all they really need.

Again, the Lakers are not going to get a fantastic package for Westbrook, so something like this would be a luxury. But why would Charlotte say yes?

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