Lakers Reportedly Turned Down Significant Trade Offer For Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is in the news again. The Los Angeles Lakers had to make a move ahead of the trade deadline, but they didn’t do a thing. The team struggles to win games and its current record is not that impressive. In fact, the Lakers have lost a few of their most recent games. Why did they stay quiet? Many thought that the Lakers would accept the first trade offer for Westbrook. Wonder why?

The All-Star joined the Lakers through a huge trade in the offseason. It wasn’t a good decision after all because Westbrook’s stats are pretty bad. He may not be the best fit for the Lakers after all. The veteran didn’t establish a good connection with his teammate. He was supposed to be the third player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A big chunk of the Lakers fanbase wouldn’t agree on this one.

Lakers front office didn’t accept Houston’s trade offer for Westbrook

NBA experts predicted a big move for the Lakers. Teams didn’t show much interest in Westbrook, but the Houston Rockets were definitely on the list of potential suitors. Houston was a good trade partner for the Lakers. According to Chris Haynes, the Rockets did try to get Westbrook. They added John Wall to the package. Getting rid of Westbrook makes sense, but Pelinka didn’t want to get rid of a first-round pick. First-rounders are of great importance for NBA teams and the Lakers really need this pick to upgrade their roster. LeBron and AD won’t last forever, right?

“Sources informed me that the [Houston] Rockets did reach out to the Lakers to offer John Wall for Russell Westbrook, but they wanted the Lakers to include a first-round pick,” Haynes said tonight. “The Lakers declined that.”

Rockets offered John Wall for Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick but Lakers declined, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/6wp807WBYi

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 11, 2022

Westbrook hasn’t met expectations, but everything points to the fact that he will finish the season as a Laker. Pelinka won’t change his mind at this point. We have a few good reasons to believe that the franchise will give Westbrook another chance despite the fact that he was benched. Will he stay on the roster longer than predicted?