Rob Pelinka’s past mistakes making it harder for Lakers to trade Westbrook

Trading for Patrick Beverley is a move that figures to pay huge dividends for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only will Beverley’s arrival reshape the team’s defensive identity, but he steps in as the top three-point shooter on the roster in terms of career percentage following the departure of Malik Monk.

While acquiring Beverley has Lakers Nation ready to pump out their chest, one burning domino has to fall before fans can deem this a successful offseason. That domino, as you might’ve guessed, is Russell Westbrook.

It’s no secret that Westbrook and Beverley have a long-standing beef. There’s legitimate concern they would clash as teammates and Los Angeles doesn’t need personal feuds dividing the locker room while they’re trying to compete for a title.

The general consensus was that Beverley’s arrival would expedite Westbrook’s departure, but it’s been all quiet on that front in the days since.

While Westbrook’s cratered value and mammoth contract doesn’t help matters, might we turn attention to Rob Pelinka’s past mistakes coming home to roost as part of the reason Russ is still rostered by the purple and gold?

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka’s past mistakes are complicating the process of trading Russell Westbrook.

Lakers Legacy brings up a great point. Pelinka has been more than happy to unload first-round picks in exchange for star players. Rival executives have obviously taken note and are (likely) using that as leverage in trade talks with Los Angeles.

Look no further than the Anthony Davis trade. The Lakers jettisoned the No. 4 selection in the 2019 draft, a top-eight protected pick in 2021, the right to swap first-round picks with the Lakers in 2023 and an unprotected 2024 first-round pick that the Pelicans can defer to the 2025 draft.

Only one of those picks was protected.

Last offseason, LA agreed to trade Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the No. 22 overall pick to Washington for Westbrook.

That’s five first-round picks and only one was protected. Now, Pelinka realizes he’s short on draft capital and is “haggling” over putting protections on the Lakers’ 2029 first-rounder? This isn’t NBA 2K. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too, especially when Westbrook is half the player he was during his prime.

If getting the 2029 first-round pick protected is really the holdup in trading Westbrook, Lakers fans have every right to want to pull their hair out. Credit to Pelinka if he ultimately gets it done but the last thing he should be concerned about is whether a draft pick seven years down the line is protected.

LeBron James proved last year by leading the NBA in scoring at age-37 that he can still carry a team to the promised land. He hasn’t shown any signs of breaking down, but he isn’t getting any younger. Westbrook, on the other hand, further proved last year that his playing style isn’t conducive to winning basketball.

We understand Pelinka is a perfectionist, but the Lakers simply aren’t getting a like-for-like return on investment for Westbrook. The sooner Pelinka accepts that, the sooner Westbrook will be off the roster and everyone can begin to look forward to next season with a pinch of optimism.

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