The Los Angeles Lakers offseason has hardly begun and already it has been a roller coaster of rumors and trade speculation. With Kyrie Irving locked into his player option with the Brooklyn Nets, attention on the Lakers will likely point its attention on Russell Westbrook and where the point guard could land.
If he is traded this offseason it would be his fifth team in as many seasons speaking to where he is in his career. Westbrook is either unwilling or unable to adjust his game to the team around him.
The Lakers are going to be hardpressed to move Russell Westbrook because of it.
Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and LeBron James simply won’t work together in today’s NBA due to the lack of shooting. LeBron is well established as an elite scorer, however, Davis and Westbrook both regressed last season and LeBron cannot be asked to carry the scoring load as he nears his twentieth season in this league.
Davis still brings a lot of value as a defensive anchor even when his shot isn’t falling. This leaves Westbrook as the obvious odd man out if the Lakers can find any team willing to take on his expiring contract.
With this in mind, four teams stand out as desperate enough to take Westbrook off the Lakers’ hands and give the team a chance to make moves in free agency and the trade market.