2. Joe Harris
The Nets are a taxpaying team and they understandably are not going to want to take on more money in a Kyrie Irving trade. If the Nets traded for Westbrook straight-up with picks they would not only take on the extra salary but the massive tax implications that it would have as well.
For that reason, Brooklyn is going to try and get the money in their favor and the easiest way to do that is to trade Joe Harris. Harris’ name has been floated around in a potential Irving trade already and it makes far too much sense for both sides.
The Nets get to save money against the tax this season as well as getting the salary relief next year as Harris has two years remaining on his deal. The Lakers pay more money, sure, but they would actually fill a massive need on the team: three-point shooting.
LA’s three-point shooting is horrendous and Harris is the best off-ball shooter in the entire sport. He is the perfect role player to put in this rotation to space the floor and make the Lakers a more well-rounded offense presence.
The only way this does not happen (assuming Irving is traded) is if the Lakers trade for Seth Curry instead. While that would also be nice, Brooklyn is going to want to move on from Harris first and the Lakers need to just stop being cheap and acquire the player who would very obviously be a positive asset.