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Insider confirms how painfully close Lakers were to avoiding Westbrook

By Jerry Trotta

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers‘ widely-panned decision to trade for Russell Westbrook last offseason begged to blow up in their face.

Even the most casual basketball fan realized the former MVP never felt like a fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis — he’s one of the NBA’s worst three-point shooters and needs the ball in his hands to create offense — and the end result was the Lakers’ most disappointing season in recent memory.

Now, the Lakers are doing everything in their power to offload Westbrook, but are finding it incredibly difficult for obvious reasons. Not only is he a shell of the player he was during his prime Oklahoma City days, but his contract is an absolute albatross (he’s due over $47 million this upcoming season).

If only Los Angeles could go back in time and never make the trade, right?

Well, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers were painfully close to avoiding trading for Westbrook altogether. The reason being? They nearly struck a deal with the Kings for Buddy Hield in a package centered around Kyle Kuzma.

The Lakers nearly avoided the Russell Westbrook debacle last offseason.

That is just a painful listen. Per Buha, Kings staffers were preparing social media graphics to announce the Kuzma trade! That’s not even the worst part. The Lakers would’ve been able to keep Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and their 2021 first-round pick. Only Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell would’ve been sent to Sacramento.

Who knows? Maybe the worst part is LeBron and Davis believed Westbrook’s newfound willingness to commit on defense and play off the ball. Were they seduced by the idea of acquiring a third “superstar” over a role player in Hield? Did they let their personal friendship with Westbrook influence their decision?

There’s no sense crying over spilled milk, but this has to be agonizing for Lakers fans who just watched their team — NBA champs just two seasons ago — stumble to one of their worst regular seasons maybe since 2016-17.

That’s not to say LA would’ve accomplished anything with Hield. The injuries to James and Davis derailed their title hopes, but they would’ve been much better off adding one of the game’s premier marksman… all the while keeping KCP, who quietly put together a nice season for the Wizards in 2021-22.

The domino effect is everlasting. The 2021 first-round pick could’ve been jettisoned in a more worthwhile trade. The Lakers would have more financial flexibility to build their roster around LeBron and Davis, and so on and so forth.

There’s still a world in which LA is able to trade Westbrook and acquire Hield, but it would take a miracle based on the reports surrounding the former’s market.

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