The biggest storyline surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers since the end of the 2021-22 season has been a potential Russell Westbrook trade. However, after not making a deal over the summer and with how this season has played out, a Westbrook trade has grown more and more unlikely.
Regardless of whether or not the team makes a Westbrook trade, the Lakers should be looking to improve this season. There is potential with this group of players but at the end of the day, they currently are not good enough to be actual contenders.
It appears that the Lakers are leaning toward making a non-Westbrook trade to improve the team. While that might seem exciting, the reality is that the latest Lakers trade rumor is actually quite illogical. Los Angeles might be preparing to trade valuable draft capital in a deal that would not make much of a difference (h/t Jovan Buha on Lakers Talk).
A quick recap of Jovan Buha’s appearance on Lakers Talk with Allen Sliwa:
— Lakers Supply 🇺🇦🌻 (@LakersSupply) November 30, 2022
•the FO is leaning towards a trade of Pat Bev, Nunn and a minimum + a first than a Russ trade
•Currently no deal is out there they feel Russ+2 firsts is worth it
•Jones/Bev/Nunn viewed as disappointments
Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn quickly became trade candidates this season with their disappointing play. That part of this Lakers trade rumor is not illogical. Instead, it is what the team might package alongside them that should worry fans.
The Lakers would be illogical to trade a first-round pick in a non-Russell Westbrook trade.
To be fair, the Lakers are not going to get much on the trade market for Beverley and Nunn. Neither player has much value in the trade market. The fact that both players are on expiring deals is probably the only value other teams see in both disappointing guards.
Trading a first-round pick might seem like a necessity to move Beverley and Nunn. While that might be the case, Rob Pelinka and the front office must resist their temptations and not make this kind of trade.
Even with a first-round pick attached, the Lakers are not going to make a trade that drastically changes the team. Sure, they might bring in a valuable role player that can make a difference, but this kind of trade doesn’t suddenly elevate them from a play-in team to a contender.
It is going to take a string of moves in order for the team to realize that potential. This would be a horrible waste of an asset and would be extremely contradictory to everything we have heard about the Lakers regarding a Westbrook trade.
If the team does not think there is a Westbrook trade that elevates them into a contender why would they trade one of the two picks in order to get marginally better?
Former draft pick yet again reminds Lakers of their horrible mistake
The Los Angeles Lakers made a horrible mistake trade Ivica Zubac and he continues to remind the team of that nearly four tears later.
Sure, it might make LA more watchable this year but in the long run, it will simply be another example of poor roster and asset management by the front office.