3. Kendrick Nunn
Often lost in the mess that was the 2021 Lakers season is the fact Kendrick Nunn was on the Los Angeles roster and is still a member of the Lakers. Nunn opted into his $5.2-million dollar player option and is one of the few remaining members from last season’s roster. Trading Nunn is a tricky move when you consider he is coming off of a full season off due to a knee injury.
He was expected back throughout the season but continually failed to make the expected progress and will now be headed into the 2022 season as a giant question mark. It is hard to expect Nunn to come back after a year off as the player he was in Miami much less as an improved player.
It is more likely he will have regressed and need a year to find his way back to being a productive part of a rotation.
That is time the Lakers simply don’t have and for that reason should move Nunn if they have the opportunity. Finding a potential suitor for a guard coming off of a knee injury who has only played two years in the league is a tall task.
But if the Lakers can find a way to part ways with Westbrook the team can certainly move on from Nunn.