Lakers’ expectations prove they are not serious about trading Russell Westbrook
By Jason Reed
The biggest rumor that has circled around the Los Angeles Lakers since the final whistle of the 2021-22 season has been a potential Russell Westbrook trade. It looked like it was going to happen at times over the summer but ultimately, Westbrook came into the season as a Laker.
Westbrook has found new life under Darvin Ham’s guidance as well. Ham made the smart decision of moving Westbrook primarily to the bench, allowing him to essentially be a version of playoff Rondo that the Lakers got back in 2020. This has been better for everyone involved.
Since the Lakers have been playing better as of late, talks about a trade have intensified. The front office has an idea to pull off a different kind of trade with the assets they have with a Westbrook trade not seemingly being the main focus right now.
That being said, if a Westbrook trade falls in the team’s lap they certainly are not going to say no. Thanks to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, we now know what the Lakers would be willing to trade both first-round picks (and Russell Westbrook) for: an all-star.
Los Angeles is willing to trade a protected pick in a smaller deal, which might not be the smartest thing depending on what the team gets. That might be the only trade the team makes, as an all-star asking price for both picks is a bit unrealistic.
This proves that the Lakers are not serious about trading Russell Westbrook.
This is simply a pipe dream for the organization. Rob Pelinka and the front office know that they are not going to get an all-star for the cost of an expiring Westbrook contract and only two first-round picks. All-stars go for insane value on the trade market now and while those picks are valuable, it probably is not enough.
Plus, a lot would have to happen for there to even be an all-star available. It would take a team absolutely plummeting and said star to essentially demand a trade to the Lakers. It would take the theorized Chicago Bulls situation that gained steam last week and quite frankly, that feels incredibly unrealistic.
The potential return for Westbrook and two picks has always been some kind of package of Buddy Hield and Myles Turner or Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier. Something along those lines. Unless the team considers Hayward an all-star, the Lakers are not going to get that in return.
This simply proves that the team is not going to trade Westbrook and that is fine. While it is frustrating for fans, that is probably the right move. A Westbrook trade would improve the team but with how he is playing this season, it isn’t suddenly going to make this team a contender.
Here is what would end up happening. The Lakers would trade two picks to marginally improve. They would win one playoff series, maybe two, at most. Then they would fall short to one of the premier contenders in the league and every fan would be outraged that the Lakers even made a trade in the first place.
Suddenly the conversation will turn to “why didn’t they just hold onto Westbrook and keep those picks and go for it next year? That is what they are doing now anyway!”. It’s a lose-lose situation. One that the team put itself in, but it does not change the fact that it is a lose-lose.
Regardless, it would be incredibly shocking to see the Lakers actually get an all-star for Westbrook, so don’t get your hopes up anytime soon.