Lakers See Russell Westbrook Trade As Unlikely, More Focused On Acquiring Fringe Starter The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have pinpointed Russell Westbrook as the root of their issues this season, but trading him away at the deadline is unlikely. The Lakers are instead focusing on more realistic scenarios in which they could improve their rotation. "It's going to be very difficult to trade Russell Westbrook and Rob Pelinka knows that," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "With $47 million due to him next season, there's just not a marketplace to do that. The Lakers have shown a real reluctance to incentivize a deal, meaning add draft picks to it. They have picks still going out in other deals. At what point do you stop just completely mortgaging your future for deals that probably result in all of a sudden you having a championship contender. And now you've just jugged yourself a deeper hole. "Their problems are deeper than how Westbrook has assimilated into this team. Losing Alex Caruso last year. Not paying the luxury tax to keep him. They gassed their assets in the Westbrook trade. "Right now, the deals the Lakers are really looking at are around the fringes. Players like Alec Burks in New York. Dennis Schroder in Boston. Any number of role players, fringe starters that they might be able to cobble together the assets to get. "But the idea of a Westbrook trade? Nothing is impossible but I think it is highly unlikely."
I will say, if the Magic finesse a decent 1st rounder for Robin Lopez while we get nothing for EG or Wood, just ban me preemptively
You know that they aren't free agents for another 1.5 years, right? Between now and then, you have the ability to trade them at the draft, trade them any time before the next trade deadline, and you even have the ability to work on an extension with Wood. There is no rush. The Rockets are absolutely elite at what they are doing this year. Why mess with a good thing just to mess with a good thing?
I love refreshing the homepage, seeing a new post in this thread, then finding out it’s something like this.
The more I think about it.... Get rid of Wall & Gordon now. Announce Wood is out for the rest of the year. Trade his ass during draft night for a pick.
I'm all about being realistic but what you proposed is not realistic, taking back WB without sending Wall is insane. Want to see some realistic proposals? Wall for WB + 2026 top 8 protected swap option (turns into 2 seconds if not conveyed) Gordon for Dragic + 2nds Wood for Ish Smith and PJ Washington Now those are some disappointing and realistic deals, but they aren't something crazy like trading EG/Wood for WB
In what universe is pj Washington better than Wood. If that’s a realistic trade then no wonder Wood won’t get traded
people forget how much hype there always was about Morey wheeling and dealing before the deadline, then nothing would happen and he would come out looking all haggard for a press conference and say they were very close but just couldn't make a deal
He's not better, he's 23 on a rookie contract, meaning when he hits FA in 2023 he'll be an RFA, unlike Wood. He plays PF and is a very good 3PT, meaning Sengun can start at the 5, and Tate/Martin can get minutes at SF, allowing us to not play a midget squad.
