4. Trading Russell Westbrook to the New York Knicks
Before even diving into the Lakers’ side of the trade, I just want to establish that there is never, in a million years, a chance that the New York Knicks make this trade. Earlier in the summer, this kind of trade did make sense with the season that the Knicks were coming off of.
However, after adding Jalen Brunson it is clear that New York is trying to win as soon as next season and they wouldn’t just do this salary dump to free up future money. The team would be even worse next season by putting Westbrook next to Brunson and that would not attract any free agents to come.
Sure, the Knicks would be better off trading those contracts but they are best off just waiting until the next disgruntled star wants out. Those contracts are valuable to trade in that regard and who knows, they could still trade them for Donovan Mitchell.
That being said, the Lakers should not fret at this kind of return. Let’s say it is a three-team trade where the Lakers get Randle and Fournier, the Jazz get Westbrook and all the picks and the Knicks get Donovan Mitchell. Should the Lakers pursue that? Yes.
I understand Randle has multiple years left under contract and played poorly last season. However, his contract is not really that bad in the grand scheme of things. He does not have a single season with a cap hit of $30 million or more. With the cap projected to grow with new TV money, that contract is going to age beautifully.
And personally, I do not think his play style would conflict with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The team can have LeBron be the de facto point guard with Fournier as the two guard, Randle as the three, Davis as the four and Thomas Bryant as the five. That is a team with good floor spacing that can score a lot of points.
If the price is only one first-round pick to help facilitate a Mitchell trade by taking on these deals the Lakers should jump all over.
Verdict: Pursue this return but this specific trade is unrealistic for New York