Proposed Trade Gives Lakers $31 Million All-Star & $13 Million Guard For Russell Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to trade Russell Westbrook in February, but he is still a Laker. Rob Pelinka is looking for a trade partner and he will have to give up on future first-round picks to make this trade happen. The Lakers have been linked to several players, including Kyrie Irving and a bunch of players from the Utah Jazz.

Westbrook knows that the Lakers want to trade him and he is fine with this. Greg Swartz from Bleacher Report discussed a three-team trade including the Lakers, Jazz, and Minnesota Timberwolves in his “Blockbuster Trade Ideas for 2022-23 NBA Season” piece. According to Swartz, the Lakers could send Russ and 2027 first-round pick to Utah.

Lakers to get the best of a Westbrook trade

The Lakers are getting D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Rudy Gay. Minnesota is getting Mike Conley, Kendrick Nunn, and a 2023 second-rounder from LA. The Jazz will get Russ and 2027 first-rounder.

Darvin Ham has a big role with the team and he is expected to carve out the best role for his players. Yes, Russ is part of the lineup, too. Clarkson and Westbrook would work well on the floor.

“After the Lakers selected him No. 2 overall out of Ohio State in 2015, Russell returns to give Los Angeles a dynamic upgrade at point guard. The 26-year-old averaged 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.0 steals for Minnesota last year and can serve as a primary scorer and facilitator on nights when LeBron James and Anthony Davis need a rest,” Swartz wrote about his proposed trade. “Russell has also connected on 39.1 percent or better of his catch-and-shoot threes in three of the past four seasons, proving he can be a capable off-ball threat as well. Clarkson, another former Laker and someone who has experience playing next to James, joins this team as a high-octane sixth man, while Gay provides some veteran forward help off the bench.”

The Lakers have enough time to do their calculations. Will Westbrook enter the new season as a Laker? Let’s see what happens next.