What occurs when an irresistible pressure meets an immovable object? Well, the Los Angeles Lakers are apparently seeking to resolve the riddle.
Four video games (and 4 losses) into the 2022-23 NBA season and Russell Westbrook has nonetheless but to be traded. After an offseason stuffed with rumors, commerce proposals, and choices, Westbrook continues to be a Laker, and nothing has modified.
If something, Los Angeles’ taking pictures has gotten worse, as each Carmelo Anthony and Malik Monk are not on the squad. With Matt Ryan as the one true shooter on the staff, the Lakers’ offense has been uncovered time and time once more.
Rob Pelinka reportedly plans on ready a minimum of 20 video games earlier than re-opening discussions on potential Westbrook offers, however followers aren’t all too happy with that concept. Their 0-4 report might rapidly flip to 0-5, 0-6, and so forth, and because the New Orleans Pelicans personal the fitting to swap draft picks with the Lakers, tanking for Victor Wembanayama isn’t an choice.
But that leaves one essential query – what Westbrook trades can be out there for the Lakers?
The groups which have been incessantly talked about are the Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, and San Antonio Spurs. And in accordance with Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Pelinka has been pitching “two, three and four-team trade packages throughout the summer and fall.”
So, with that in thoughts, what are some potential offers Lakers followers can halfheartedly stay up for?
Russell Westbrook commerce thought for the Indiana Pacers
Pacers get: Russell Westbrook, 2027 1st; Lakers get: Buddy Hield, Myles Turner
Old devoted. Until Westbrook will get traded, this deal shall be introduced up time and time once more. However, if the Pacers begin successful too many video games, that’s the place the Lakers might look to swoop in.
Indiana is likely one of the groups that must be seeking to tank for Wembanyama, and due to that, having Hield and Turner could possibly be a detriment to their final purpose. By the time Thanksgiving rolls round, if they’ve one too many marks within the win column, accepting a bundle with solely one in every of LA’s two firsts could possibly be price it.
Russell Westbrook commerce thought for the Utah Jazz
Jazz get: Russell Westbrook, 2023 1st (by way of MIA), 2027 1st (by way of LAL); Lakers get: Jordan Clarkson, Duncan Robinson, Malik Beasley; Heat get: Kelly Olynyk
In the spirit of Pelinka’s want to create multi-team trades, right here’s one that might work out for all events concerned. The Heat would get a giant to pair subsequent to Bam Adebayo, the Lakers would get some much-needed taking pictures and depth, and the Jazz would get picks and an expiring contract.
The motive behind Miami’s involvement on this deal can be for the Lakers to tackle Robinson’s contract. Sure, it will diminish their cap house subsequent summer time, however this might assist them put a greater staff round LeBron James and Anthony Davis, regardless. Utah wouldn’t need to eat Robinson’s long-term cash, so the Lakers would solely need to commerce one in every of their future firsts.
Plus, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, “sources expect the Lakers and Jazz to resume talks later in the season.”
*LAL and MIA must swap irrelevant picks/money to make a deal work as a result of every staff should swap items with each staff concerned.
Russell Westbrook commerce thought for the San Antonio Spurs
Spurs get: Russell Westbrook, Juancho Hernangomez, 2023 1st (by way of TOR), Protected 2027 1st (by way of LAL), Lakers get: Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Khem Birch; Raptors get: Jakob Poeltl
This deal can be eerily much like the three-team commerce with Miami and Utah, because the Toronto Raptors can be taking part in an identical function – leaping within the deal to get a participant and guaranteeing that the Lakers would solely need to commerce one first-round decide.
San Antonio would additional their Wembanyama efforts, the Lakers would get some stable (but not fairly as stable because the Jazz commerce) depth, and the Raptors would land a giant man improve within the type of a former participant.
All that being stated, SB Nation’s Spurs website, Pounding the Rock, identified an essential truth – the Lakers don’t have a lot leverage in a Westbrook commerce with San Antonio. Unless the Spurs win too many video games, they don’t have any actual motive to budge on what they’d need from the Lakers. So except they get into the depths of the season and are within the Play-In hunt, the Spurs appear unlikely to get in on the Westbrook motion.
*LAL and TOR must swap irrelevant picks/money to make a deal work as a result of every staff should swap items with each staff concerned.
Russell Westbrook commerce thought for the Charlotte Hornets
Hornets get: Russell Westbrook, 2027 1st, 2023 2nd; Lakers get: Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre Jr., Mason Plumlee
As the season goes on, the Hornets might notice that the time to tank is now. Even when LaMelo Ball will get again, they don’t appear to hold a lot hope of constructing a playoff run in a stacked Eastern Conference. And in the event that they resolve that tanking is the fitting transfer, this deal must be towards the highest of their record.
Landing a future first from the Lakers and a 2023 second-rounder can be a steal for 3 gamers who in all probability wouldn’t maintain as a lot commerce worth in different offers. But for the Lakers, getting Hayward’s shot creation, Oubre’s taking pictures, and Plumlee’s playmaking on the heart place (a spot the place they don’t have many nice choices) can be very useful.
As time goes on, Lakers followers will turn into increasingly determined for a Westbrook commerce. But Pelinka, sitting on high of his shiny new contract extension, doesn’t appear to be in any rush.