The Utah Jazz traded Bojan Bogdanovic to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday and that was seemingly the final straw that broke the camel’s back in any potential Russell Westbrook trade talks for the Los Angeles Lakers.
A Westbrook trade with Utah no longer made sense with Bogdanovic’s contract not being attached and the other possible trade destinations were seemingly off the table. Specifically, the potential of trading Westbrook to the Indiana Pacers was killed by Pacers’ GM Chad Buchanan saying that Myles Turner would be the team’s starting center on opening night.
Could that have just been a smoke screen from Indiana? Perhaps. Just as Lakers fans were accepting the reality that a Westbrook trade was dead in the water, NBA insider Shams Charania had to throw a curveball into the rumor mill and reignite the optimism in LA.
“I'm told the Lakers and Pacers did engage in some trade conversations this week and the Pacers' demand for two unprotected first-round picks … is just not appealing for the Lakers.”
— The Rally (@TheRally) September 21, 2022
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on the Pacers' plans to keep Myles Turner into the season. pic.twitter.com/rQjk6DDv0R
So the Lakers and Pacers did continue to talk about a potential Westbrook for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner swap. Interesting.
The Los Angeles Lakers are foolish for not making this trade happens.
It appears that the Lakers can absolutely make this trade happen if they so pleased, all they have to do is attach both the 2027 and 2029 first-round picks with Westbrook to convince Indiana to make the trade.
I definitely understand being hesitant in trading future draft capital but the Lakers have more picks in the upcoming seasons than they advertise. Not only that, but the Lakers have to trust in their roster-constructing ability, knowing that those picks in 2027 and 2029 might not even be good picks.
This is the best offer LA is going to get and one that actually does make the team a contender. The addition of Hield and Turner fits so nicely in this roster. With Westbrook’s departure alone making the team better, this is a trade that genuinely can make the Lakers win 12-15 more games than they would otherwise.
But for whatever reason, Rob Pelinka and co. don’t see it that way. And while Shams is bringing more optimism to the table for Lakers fans, it still seems extremely unlikely that anything will happen.
Shams did not say that the trade talks happened recently, he just said they happened this week. Buchanan may have said what he said because trade talks with LA went nowhere. It seems most likely that these teams talked, Indiana didn’t like what the Lakers had to offer, and Buchanan then essentially killed the trade publically.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis ranked disrespectfully low in ESPN Top 100 list
Anthony Davis was recently ranked as the twentieth best player in the NBA by ESPN, this is simply disrespectful to the Lakers big man.
It could have been a leverage play on his part so writers like myself would write articles bashing Pelinka for not making this trade two months ago. And who knows, maybe it will work.