3. Miami Heat
This might sound like a crazy idea but there is absolutely a path in which the Miami Heat are the ones picking up the phone to call about a Russell Westbrook trade. Miami has not gotten off to the kind of start that it was hoping for and might be looking for an out as it pertains to Kyle Lowry.
Miami is 4-5 this season and really has not played the kind of basketball that the team is capable of. Perhaps the most disappointing facet of the team’s season thus far is Kyle Lowry, who was already regressing last season and has taken a huge step back this season.
Lowry has another season under contract and the Heat very well could view him as a sunk cost. Since Miami is always a destination, it might suit the team better to take on a contract that is expiring, like Westbrook’s, and simply part ways with Lowry this season.
The pitch to the Lakers would be simple: save some money on the books with Lowry ($28.3 million cap hit this season) while getting a potential all-star point guard in return. To make the deal happen financially, Victor Oladipo and Gave Vincent would have to be included.
In this trade, Miami might not even ask for an unprotected first in return. The team could allow the Lakers to add top-five protections on the pick knowing they are getting value out of getting off of Lowry’s contract.
Lakers’ LeBron James sends most ironic tweet of the year to Kyle Kuzma
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James loves to tweet and he sent perhaps the most ironic tweet of the entire year to Kyle Kuzma.
This is something that the Lakers have to resist, as it would be bad for the long-term future of the team as the Westbrook issues would just roll over into next year with Lowry. But with how this team operates, I am not confident that they would say no.