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Should the Lakers make any of these ‘brutal’ proposed Westbrook trades?

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers picks up a loose ball at midcourt during the first half in a 121-118 Lakers win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on October 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers picks up a loose ball at midcourt during the first half in a 121-118 Lakers win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on October 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Los Angeles Lakers trade Russell Westbrook to the Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks lost Jalen Brunson this offseason after a stellar offseason for the point guard. The New York Knicks swooped in to make Brunson a $100 million player, leaving Luka Doncic without his best teammate in Dallas.

Doncic is one of the best players in the league and is one of the top favorites for the MVP award next season. While the supporting cast around him is not spectacular, the team is always going to be in the mix as long as they have Doncic.

Why the Mavericks would ever make this kind of trade is beyond me. In fact, a Dallas executive even reportedly gave a pretty brash answer when an insider asked if the team would be interested in acquiring Westbrook at all this offseason.

Dallas already traded for Christian Wood this offseason and it is obvious that they are still trying to contend with one of the best young players in the league. Russell Westbrook would actively make them worse and hurt their contending chances. That is not worth the extra picks for the Lakers.

Four years ago when Westbrook still had value in this league maybe they would have made this kind of trade. However, in the last four years, Russ has shown his true colors as a basketball player and he is a negative asset. No contending team wants to add that.

Plus, just from the Lakers’ side of things, they are giving up way too much for average role players. If they are going to trade that much then it should be for better players, which is possible.

Verdict: Pass

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