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Ranking the potential Russell Westbrook trade partners for Lakers

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

2. New York Knicks

Now that the New York Knicks missed out on trading for Donovan Mitchell the team might pivot and adjust its priorities for the upcoming 2022-23 season. In reality, the Eastern Conference is really talented (and just got more talented) and the Knicks are not going to make much noise with just the addition of Jalen Brunson.

This is still a play-in team at best and it will be interesting to see if the Knicks can realize that and make a smart move for their future. The best move the team can make in the long term is to trade Julius Randle and Evan Fournier for an expiring contract.

Those two contracts are restricting what the team can do financially, especially when Barrett’s extension kicks in. New York is not going to win a title this year anyway so if they can get off those contracts and reset the cap next summer it would be a massive win.

That is what makes Westbrook a potential trade target for the Knicks. Not only would New York get help by freeing up future money but they would get valuable Lakers assets that they could utilize in the future as well.

There is some risk involved with the Lakers as they would have to hope that they unlock both Randle and Fournier in LA. I would not say that is impossible, though, and as bad as Randle’s contract looks the Lakers can manage it with LeBron and AD. After all, Randle’s cap hit never hits $30 million and the cap will spike drastically in a few years with a new TV deal.

On paper, it makes sense for the Knicks to make this kind of trade but NBA teams are stubborn. The Knicks likely view themselves as a legitimate contender even though they aren’t, which might keep them from this deal.

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