Lakers Insider Supports Popular Trade Proposal

The Los Angeles Lakers have to pull out a few trade moves this offseason. They missed the chance to make the playoffs and Rob Pelinka is expected to trade some of the players. As you may be guessing, Russell Westbrook is probably on his way out. The Lakers may follow one popular trade proposal.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Westbrook may soon join the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers will get Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield in the trade.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic is definitely betting on this trade.

“My favorite Westbrook trade package among the rumored options is the Indiana proposal of Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield for Westbrook (and Kendrick Nunn and/or Talen Horton-Tucker). Brogdon and Hield are both younger and better fits around James and Davis. That trade, coupled with the right head coaching hire, is perhaps the Lakers’ quickest path back to contention.”

Lakers face several obstacles in the popular trade proposal

The Lakers had their eyes on Hield last season, but got Westbrook instead. Getting Hield was a much better option after all. The Westbrook experiment didn’t work and the Lakers would’ve played better with Hield in the fold. NBA analysts would agree that he is one of the most efficient shooters from 3-point range. The same goes to Brogdon. He is better shooter than Westbrook and his defense is as sharp as it can get.

Trading Brodie for these two won’t go that easily. Brogdon and Hield have multiple years on their current deals.

“The one downside to the trade for the Lakers is that they would be taking on extra years of salary — Brogdon has three more years on his contract and Hield has two more,” Buha wrote. “But neither player’s deal is an albatross. The Lakers should be able to flip one or both relatively easily if needed.”

There’s more. Westbrook is coming off one of his worst seasons in the NBA. Why would the Pacers get him? Of course, the Lakers can spice up the offer by adding a few first-rounders.

Pelinka really hopes to get the best of the next first-round picks. His team needs reshaping and Pelinka didn’t want to give up on these picks. The Houston Rockets wanted the same, but the Lakers turned down their offer.