Proposed Trade Gives Lakers A $158 Million Star & Fan Favorite Back To LA

The Los Angeles Lakers lost the season opener to the defending champions. It was a disappointing game for fans, but it’s just the beginning of the regular season. Rob Pelinka may be advised to make a few moves and boost his roster in the near future. According to NBA experts, the Lakers may trade for a fan favorite and bring him back to LA.

Russell Westbrook was mentioned in pretty much every trade move this offseason. He didn’t leave the team despite all the drama. He was great in the preseason, but head coach Darvin Ham decided to use him off the bench. It’s a new role for the veteran and it sure sparked another debate. Will Russ leave the Lakers early in the season?

Bill Simmons from The Ringer mentioned the Washington Wizards as potential destination for Westbrook. Russ joins the Wizards and Kristaps Porzingis becomes a Laker. Of course, Pelinka will have to send two unprotected first-rounders to Washington. Kyle Kuzma finds his way back to LA. That’s all. Does this make sense?

“[Rob] Pelinka calls, he says, I got Westbrook,” Simmons explained during the October 12, 2022 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “I got my unprotected [picks in] 27 and 29. Give me Kuzma and Porzingis. We’ll call it into the league. …I’m saying do it in the next two months so [the Wizards are] in the [Victor] Wembanyama sweepstakes or Scoot [Henderson] sweepstakes. What’s the point of winning 35 games this year?”

Lakers have a reason to trade for the fan favorite

The Wizards may give up on Porzingis if they want to get a first-round pick. This would help them get Victor Wembanyama or Scott Henderson. Yes, Simmons’ suggestion makes sense.

In 2021-22, Porzingis averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while going 36.7% from long range. Porzingis could easily become the third player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He could help the Lakers improve their shooting and yes, getting him could be of great help for the team.

When it comes to Kuzma, he did a really good job in his first season with the Wizards. The former Laker averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while going 34.1% from the three-point line this past season.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers won’t make any moves before the trade deadline.

"I'm told to expect Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to wait until post-Thanksgiving, 20 games into the season and see what teams may start pivoting, who don't start off well."@wojespn on what kind of moves the Lakers can make with their rosterpic.twitter.com/F4MNBN7ArR

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 19, 2022

“I’m told to expect Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to wait until post-Thanksgiving, 20 games into the season and see what teams may start pivoting, who don’t start off well,” Wojnarowski explained during the October 19 edition of NBA Countdown. “Who decide that they may start to look to unload players and perhaps get involved in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. To get down in the lottery, instead of as we saw in previous years, teams chasing the play-in tournament.”