The Los Angeles Lakers added to the roster on Friday as it was reported that the team would be signing former Laker Dennis Schroder to a one-year contract. The timing of this announcement was strange and it seems to indicate that a Russell Westbrook trade is right around the corner.
Earlier this week it was reported that the Utah Jazz and Lakers were still in talks about a potential consolidation trade that would have involved Westbrook. However, a trade with Utah never seemed very likely.
Instead, the Schroder signing paves the way for different trade possibilities, one of which being with the Indiana Pacers.
Here are 3 reasons why the Lakers will trade Russell Westbrook to the Pacers after signing Dennis Schroder:
1. Other guard trade candidates no longer make sense
Mike Conley was a potential player that the Lakers could have traded for from the Utah Jazz. His contract does not make a lot of sense for LA, but he is definitely someone who the Jazz wanted to send away via trade.
Another point guard that LA could trade for is Terry Rozier. The Hornets were reportedly looped into the trade talks for Donovan Mitchell and there is still potential there for the Lakers to bring Rozier in.
While that is not completely unrealistic, it does not make much sense if Schroder is on the roster. There would be the same issues with the roster with Rozier or Conley as there would be with Westbrook. Sure, LA would get more players in return, but they would just be adding back to the point guard logjam.
And yes, I know Terry Rozier is listed as a two-guard but I don’t think the Lakers are going to want to run a six-foot-one two-guard on a roster that has three point guards even if Westbrook does get traded.