Why the Los Angeles Lakers could say yes:
The biggest thing the Los Angeles Lakers can do this offseason is trade Russell Westbrook and there are not going to be a lot of suitors. However, if the Lakers can loop in multiple teams to accomplish a trade like this then that would be absolutely stellar, even with the question marks around Ben Simmons.
Sure, Simmons’ stock is at an all-time low and some fans may not want to commit to several years of Ben Simmons after this Russell Westbrook fiasco. However, the Lakers are not going to have many options and this would be the best-case situation.
Let’s not forget that Simmons is a Klutch Sports Client and that the stars in LA would welcome him with open arms and it would probably be the situation Simmons himself wants to live in. He can live in laid-back Los Angeles and be the third-best player on the Lakers.
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Simmons is still young and when he plays is one of the best defensive players in the league. His style is quite redundant with LeBron James but he at least has the defensive upside that Russell Westbrook does not have. It might not be a perfect fit, but if the Lakers can surround them with shooters then it could be really interesting.
Yes, the Lakers trade a first and a pick swap in this trade but that is what it would take to go from Westbrook to Ben Simmons, even with Simmons’ stock being low.
Both Mike Conley and Kemba Walker are only in the trade for salary-dump purposes for the other teams but the Lakers can make it work. Walker is on an expiring deal and Conley’s contract after the 2022-23 season is partially guaranteed, so the team can part ways if needed.