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Lakers can trade Russell Westbrook to Jazz in this wild 4-team trade

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Utah Jazz were just eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by a Dallas Mavericks team that initially was missing Luka Doncic. It is clear that the Jazz are heading into a busy offseason full of change, especially with this being Danny Ainge’s first full offseason with the team.

Even Utah fans can admit that the tandem of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are not going to win a championship. Add in the fact that the Jazz are over the luxury tax and are not a big market team and it is clear that Utah is going to blow it up in some capacity.

Bill Simmons, Kevin O’Conner and Rob Mahoney broke down this situation on a recent episode of ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast‘ and Simmons pondered if the Jazz could be the team that ends up with Russell Westbrook in a salary dump, multi-team trade.

And while the trade idea was certainly wild, it does make some sense for the Los Angeles Lakers and all four teams involved.

The wild four-team Russell Westbrook trade that actually makes some sense:

  • Lakers receive: Mike Conley, Kemba Walker, Ben Simmons
  • Nets receive: Rudy Gobert, Derrick Rose, Royce O’Neale
  • Knicks receive: Donovan Mitchell, Juan Hernangomez
  • Jazz receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, Joe Harris, R.J. Barrett, Philadelphia 2022 first-round pick (via Brooklyn), 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick swap (via New York), 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick swap (via Los Angeles) 

That is a lot to swallow. Essentially, the Utah Jazz would be completely blowing it up with both Rudy Gobert and would undergo the largest commitment we have seen to a rebuild in recent memory. Utah would be trading both of its stars for a salary dump in Westbrook, a promising young player in RJ Barrett that they would build around and a total of seven first-round picks.

Could the Jazz push for more picks? Sure. But this is obviously a complex trade with a lot of moving pieces. In the following pages, we will break down why all four teams would potentially say yes to this trade.

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