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Lakers: Fact or fiction on 6 potential Russell Westbrook trade packages

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after he was fouled by Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks in the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after he was fouled by Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks in the first half at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images) /

4. Trading Russell Westbrook to Houston for a package, not John Wall

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets were discussing a potential Russell Westbrook for John Wall swap at the deadline. However, the Lakers rightfully turned down the offer as they did not want to attach a first-round pick in the deal, even if it was a pick swap.

There is a reality in which nothing else is possible this summer and the Lakers get desperate and do the same trade with a 2027 pick swap. That is not the package that is presented in Pincus’s article though. Instead, he theorizes that the Lakers could trade Westbrook for Christian Wood, Eric Gordon and David Nwaba.

Spoiler alert: this is not happening and will not happen in a million years. The Rockets already have one overpaid point guard that they are paying to not play. Why in the world would Houston trade pieces for another player that they probably would not play?

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It is clear that Houston would rather play the young guys and let them get experience and that is the right way to go. Trading multiple pieces for essentially another version of Wall goes against everything the Rockets have told us this season.

The extra first-round pick that the Lakers attach to Westbrook is not going to be enough to entice the Rockets, who can get more overall if they trade the trio in separate deals to other contenders.

Plus, it is not like the Rockets are even trying to free up money by trading for an expiring contract! Wood is already on an expiring contract and Gordon’s contract for the 2023-24 season is non-guaranteed, so he is essentially on an expiring contract as well!

The Houston Rockets would never make this trade.

Verdict: Fiction 

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