A blockbuster trade that would finally get the LA Lakers out of the big money flop
Russell Westbrook is “currently dead,” although the Lakers have been urged to do everything to get the deal done.
With talks stalled with the Brooklyn Nets over a mega-deal to trade Russell Westbrook for Kyrie Irving, the Lakers have sought out rival teams for the long-awaited trade.
But the appetite for Westbrook around the league is slim to say the least, which isn’t surprising given his woeful form and large contract.
A strong potential trade partner for the Lakers is the Indiana Pacers, who have plenty of talented players to offer, and the cap space to absorb the mammoth final year of Westbrook’s $47.1 million contract.
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NBA rules prevent a team from trading their first-round picks in consecutive years, meaning the next first-rounder Los Angeles can trade is now 2027, because of the picks they gave up to sign superstar Anthony Davis in 2019.
But the Lakers’ desperation to keep at least one of their 2027 and 2029 unprotected first-round picks has seen negotiations with the Pacers stall.
The Lakers are reportedly hoping to sign Myles Turner and Buddy Hield in exchange for Westbrook and their 2027 first-round pick.
However, The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz wrote, “Per source, the Lakers-Pacers trade involving Russell Westbrook, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield and other assets is currently dead. That doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t come back and add a second first-round pick to the current package of picks, but for now, things are at a standstill.”
With LeBron James unlikely to be around in 2027, giving up his future draft capital would clearly be a win-win move now, although the Los Angeles hierarchy could look to trade Anthony Davis once James retires to start a complete reconstruction.
However, James has clearly been pushing the franchise for the pieces around him to contend for another championship, and a trade with Indiana could go a long way in that regard.
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The Lakers’ interest in point guard Hield is not new, as the team appeared to be close to signing the then-Kings player last season, before signing Westbrook.
That move backfired spectacularly, with the Lakers now desperately searching the market to get out of their Westbrook nightmare.
It’s already the biggest drama of the NBA offseason, and it shows no signs of slowing down.