3. Sending Russell Westbrook to Charlotte for Gordon Hayward
Marc Stein mentioned the Charlotte Hornets as a team to watch that could potentially trade for Russell Westbrook this summer and there is some potential for a deal to transpire. While some Laker outlets have gotten a bit optimistic in what the team can get in return, there is legs for this trade.
The trade centers around the fact that Gordon Hayward has not been what the Hornets were hoping for and has struggled to stay on the court at times. In theory, the Hornets could trade multiple years of paying Hayward and just get it over with by paying Westbrook for one year. Regardless of if it is Hayward or Westbrook, the Hornets are not doing much next season.
Some fans have gotten optimistic in thinking that the Hornets would package Terry Rozier in the deal to entice the Lakers. That is too much for Charlotte to pay. Let’s stop pretending like Westbrook is an asset that the Hornets want more so than the team potentially just wanting to get off of Hayward.
The package would probably be something along the lines of Westbrook and a lottery-protected future first for Hayword, Mason Plumlee and a 2022 second. Both teams would accomplish what they are looking to accomplish in this deal.
In theory, if he could just stay healthy, Hayward would be the perfect third star to put next to LeBron and AD as someone who can shoot threes as well as cut to the rim both on and off-ball. Westbrook would sell some tickets and then the Hornets would have cap space in 2023.
Verdict: Fact (without Terry Rozier)