3. The notion of cap space next summer is irrelevant for the Lakers
Perhaps the Lakers are just going to run it back with a depleted roster this season, holding Westbrook out to either eventually be traded at the deadline when teams are more desperate or being bought out. Westbrook would be gone but his salary impact would remain, which would still hinder the depth.
The one benefit of that would be (assuming the Lakers do not take on big contracts at the deadline) cap space in the summer of 2023. If the Lakers trade for Hayward they will not have that same cap space and won’t be able to make a splash signing as a result.
That sounds great on paper but the fact of the matter is that the window is shrinking with LeBron James. Unless the team wants to trade James and start anew, it makes no sense to essentially punt on being good next season with the idea of getting cap space the following year.
James is not getting any younger and it only takes one unfortunate landing from a dunk for his career to be changed. Not to mention the fact that he could refuse to sign an extension this summer, meaning he can outright leave next summer.
The Lakers have to try and build a contender while LeBron is still on the team and is playing well. Does that mean mortgaging the future like other teams in the past? No. But trading Westbrook and one future first is not mortgaging any future. This is a legitimate way to drastically increase the team’s title odds.
But instead, they will potentially reject the trade because of something you cannot control (injuries) as well as this idea that they can spend big next summer when the options are not even that great?
Just make the trade.