Trade 2: A different Russell Westbrook trade
The Indiana Pacers are another team that has been tied to the Los Angeles Lakers for a potential Russell Westbrook deal. Los Angeles reportedly has interest in big man Myles Turner, who would be open to playing on the Lakers next season.
We have touched on a similar package to this here on Lake Show Life before although this trade is a bit different. In this potential package, the Lakers are trading two picks and THT and are getting McConnell back in the deal as well.
In a perfect world, the Lakers would be able to trade Westbrook and just one future first-round pick to the Pacers for Turner and Hield. That is not a huge return for Indiana and some may say that it is not enough. However, Turner and Hield don’t really have much trade value and we just saw Indiana trade Malcolm Brogdon for fodder and a first-round pick that will be in the high-20s.
It all depends on the market, but there absolutely is a world in which the Lakers could dump Westbrook to Indiana for Turner and Hield and only attach one first-round pick.
This trade is just a bit too much for the Lakers’ blood. Adding in THT in the deal is too much. It would still be a pursue-worthy trade if it was just Hield and Turner and the Lakers had to attach an extra pick swap. With an entire extra pick and THT, the Lakers should pass.
Why? Well, there is the potential for the Lakers to swap THT for Patrick Beverley, which would be a great move for the team to make. Adding THT to this deal keeps that from happening.
Fischer did not propose a Beverley trade in his article and instead offered up another potential THT trade package.
Verdict: Pass (But pursue a cheaper Indy package)