For months, even going back to the NBA trade deadline in February, the Los Angeles Lakers have been looking to make a trade to shake up the roster. They learned the hard way that they can’t make every piece fit together as the Russell Westbrook acquisition turned out to be a bust.
Westbrook was never able to find his niche alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It was something many people outside of the Lakers predicted would happen as Westbrook’s skill set does not mesh well with the other All-Stars in the mix.
Westbrook needs the ball in his hands to make a positive impact as his off-ball skills aren’t very strong. While he could excel as a cutter given his athleticism, he struggles mightily as a spot-up shooter, which opposing defenses were just daring him to do throughout the season.
Defensively, Westbrook was a sieve as well. He hemorrhaged points on the defensive end of the court and was unable to come close to making up for them on the offensive side. Los Angeles was better on offense and defense with Westbrook off the court, as the NetRating with him on the court was -4.0 and off of it, it was -1.6.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Running it back this upcoming season would likely be a worst-case scenario for the purple and gold. If they want any chance of improving this upcoming season, they need to move on from Westbrook. That is easier said than done, as teams aren’t lining up to acquire him.
However, their first-round picks could be very valuable. One NBA executive that spoke to NBA Analysis Network shared their opinion on just how valuable the first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 that Los Angeles possesses to make part of a trade, really are.
“It’s challenging for a front office to make a trade where it isn’t until 2027 or 2029 that a pick, where you don’t even know where it’ll be, ends up being made. It takes a few years even for top prospects to really get comfortable and make a positive impact on a consistent basis. Do I have until 2028, 2029, 2030 to run the team? Probably not. … Taking on Westbrook’s expiring deal would be about finances. If you’re a rebuilding team wanting to shed long-term salary, that’s where the value is. But if you’re a team sending out value in the trade, you need extra value to take on Westbrook’s deal.”
A majority of the teams that the Lakers have discussed Westbrook trades with would fall into the rebuilding category. The Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz all have an eye toward the future, making trades this offseason to unload veterans in exchange for future draft capital.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Expect negotiations of that nature to continue in the coming weeks as we approach the opening of training camp. But, the Lakers are prepared for things to go into the regular season, as the trade deadline may be when they can strike a blockbuster deal using their draft capital to upgrade the roster.
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