After months and months of speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately did not trade Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is on the team heading into the season and while everyone is dressing it up, chances are it looks very similar to last season.
While Rob Pelinka tells the media that he has high hopes for Westbrook he is going to be working on potential deals all season long. The main hope for fans is that the team does not bottom out and decide that they are simply going to punt the year away and retain future assets.
That being said, the latest Lakers trade rumors open the door wide open for a potential midseason Westbrook trade that would excite fans. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on the ‘Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective’ podcast that the Lakers were willing to trade both the 2027 and 2029 first-round picks for either Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell this offseason.
The Lakers were prepared to include their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in a deal for Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell, per @mcten on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective Podcast pic.twitter.com/77FKVu9xlh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2022
Why this Lakers trade rumor opens the door for a midseason Russell Westbrook trade:
While the Brooklyn Nets have figured it out for the time being there is no guarantee that things are going to go smoothly. In fact, it seems more likely that this is going to blow up in the team’s face and they are going to go through another PR nightmare during the trade deadline.
Kyrie Irving hitting the trade block again is not a guarantee but is certainly is plausible. And if that does happen there is only going to be one suitor in town that is willing to take on that headache to get rid of a headache of their own: the Los Angeles Lakers.
If the Lakers were willing to trade two first-round picks two months ago for Irving then it is hard to see that mindset changing at the deadline. The only thing that could change that is if the team is having a disaster season in which LeBron and AD get hurt and they are too far out of the race to even make a room.
But even if they are only a fringe playoff team, the idea of getting rid of Westbrook and replacing him with Kyrie Irving is going to be too enticing for the Lakers to pass up. Regardless of what is happening in Brooklyn, the Lakers will convince themselves that the best version of Kyrie will come to LA.
Insane Lakers media day quotes that you have to see to believe
Los Angeles Lakers media day was on Monday and just like every year, there were some insane quotes that fans simply have to see to believe.
It is going to take external help but the fact that the team had this mindset before should make Lakers fans hopeful that the team will have an outlet during the season to get Westbrook off the roster.