Lakers Advised to Trade Russell Westbrook for 12-Time All-Star

The Los Angeles Lakers were advised to trade Russell Westbrook ahead of the deadline in February. Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka didn’t get great offers. The Houston Rockets were the lone trade partner, but they wanted Brodie and a first-round pick. Losing a first-round pick would affect Pelinka’s chance to rebuild his team. I mean, LeBron James won’t play forever and Pelinka will have to think of the future.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report was among the first to report that the Lakers and Westbrook want to “separate” in the offseason.

“Ball Don’t Stop” has an advice for LA, too. Trade Westbrook for Chris Paul. That would be a blockbuster trade.

If Lakers offer the Suns Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul this summer, I’d take it if I’m the Suns.

If you neutralize Booker, the Suns aren’t going nowhere. Chris isn’t a scoring PG, he’s a pure point a floor general (what Lakers need) Suns need a guy who can get 25 and 8. pic.twitter.com/pbA2MuzKMM

— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) May 16, 2022

Lakers may not agree to a trade involving Russell Westbrook

Westbrook delivered good numbers this past season, but it was of no help for the team. LA missed the playoffs and Westbrook delivered too many turnovers. Fans were frustrated. “He has to go,” they said.

Not so fast. Brodie was averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game while going 44.4% from the floor, 29.8% from beyond the arc, and 66.7% from the free throw line. CP3 averaged 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game for the Phoenix Suns while going 49.3% from the field, 31.7% from 3-point range, and 83.7% from the free-throw line.

LA may get Paul and Jae Crowder. These two would do wonders alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis. Westbrook is an excellent player but he is a bad fit for the Lakers.

The Lakers won’t trade Westbrook that easily. They are searching for a new head coach. If the new guy finds creative ways to use Westbrook, the Lakers won’t even consider trading the All-Star away.

“More specifically, the notion of Russell Westbrook remaining part of their program is seeming more real all the time,” Sam Amick from The Athletic reported. “Despite the widely held belief that the Lakers would find a way to trade Westbrook before the start of next season, sources say their coaching candidates have been asked to discuss how they would use him in their system during interviews. The takeaway for candidates, it seems, is that maximizing Westbrook’s presence after his disastrous 2021-22 season is considered an important part of this job.”