Could the Lakers pull off a surprise Russell Westbrook trade?

2. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs were mentioned very early on in the Russell Westbrook saga as a potential third team to take on Westbrook’s contract in a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets. At the time, the idea of the Lakers trading two picks to San Antonio to get Westbrook off the books seemed ludicrous. Now, the Spurs’ reported asking price is the reality of the situation.

The Spurs do not have a lot of talent to offer the Lakers so the trade itself would not be the best for LA. However, as we have seen time and time again, this team doesn’t always do the smartest thing when it is desperate.

Here is what a potential Westbrook trade package to the San Antonio Spurs could look like:

This is pretty much a worse version of the three-for-one that the Lakers sent to the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook originally. On top of being the team that has to send the draft picks, the Lakers are getting someone who is as good as KCP at his best (Richardson), would be a worse version of Kyle Kuzma (McDermott) and a big that is less talented than Montrezl Harrell (Poeltl).

At the end of the day Westbrook would be off the team though and the Lakers would add depth to get the roster to 15 players. Los Angeles will actively be better if Westbrook isn’t on the team, even if the return is not that great.

But is that worth sending two future first-round picks? That is the question the Lakers are currently asking themselves.