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3 reasons against the Lakers trading Russell Westbrook

By Jason Reed

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after their 129-121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after their 129-121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

2. The Los Angeles Lakers are going to get some kind of damaged goods in return

Once again, this is an extension of Russell Westbrook simply not having any trade value at this point in time. Any team that trades Westbrook is not only going to ask for picks, but is going to have assets that they too want to get rid of.

The Lakers are not going to get a package of Buddy Hield and Malcolm Brogdon for Russell Westbrook. I love the optimism of some Laker fans that think that trade is possible (or even not enough for the Lakers) but the Pacers have literally zero reasons to make the trade happen. If they want to trade those guys they can get actual assets, not a guy they will just buy out.

Instead, the Lakers would be looking at someone like Gordon Hayward, who in theory, the Hornets would want to move off of because of his contract and injury history. Hayward would actually be a pretty decent get for the Lakers but it definitely would not include Terry Rozier. That is a pipe dream.

The absolute best-case scenario would be Ben Simmons and the only way to make that happen is if it was a multi-team trade where the Nets get another star in return and the Lakers take on Simmons with a rebuilding team taking on the Westbrook contract. We don’t have to explain the baggage that would come with Simmons.

The Lakers are not going to improve much from a talent standpoint in trading Westbrook. They are going to have to take on a similar amount of money (leading to the same depth problems) and will take on someone that has some reason for his team to want to trade him.

You could argue that trading Westbrook, while making the team better, still does not make the Lakers a title contender. Couple that with the third and final reason and it becomes easy to see how LA could talk itself out of trading Westbrook.

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