The Lakers exhibited some “covert interest” in discussing a possible Russell Westbrook trade with rival executives earlier in the season, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Amick is the second reporter in the last month to suggest the Lakers have considered the possibility of a Westbrook trade. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report previously stated that the team had internally discussed the idea and made at least one outgoing call.
Still, as Fischer pointed out in December and as Amick reiterated today, the odds of the Lakers actually making a pre-deadline deal involving Westbrook are slim. His contract, which includes a $44MM+ cap hit for this season and a $47MM+ player option for 2022/23, remains a significant obstacle.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Rookie guard Austin Reaves originally entered the Lakers’ rotation out of necessity, but even with a healthier roster, head coach Frank Vogel has felt compelled to keep playing him, writes Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group. “Me trusting him was more brought onto me because he was forced into action due to injuries,” Vogel said. “You get shorthanded and it’s like, ‘Okay, let’s see what he can do.’ And he excelled in those opportunities to the point where when other guys came back, we still wanted to keep him in there.” Reaves’ 2021/22 salary will become fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster through Friday.
- Within the same story, Goon writes that Kendrick Nunn may finally be nearing a return. Vogel cautioned there’s still no precise timetable, but said Nunn is “getting close” to make his Lakers debut. “Kendrick’s going to get a ton of minutes when he gets back healthy,” Vogel said. “It’s gonna be at the expense of somebody else, at least for that time being, to see how he fits in our system along with our stars. All that stuff will play out.”
- Following Malik Monk‘s sixth consecutive strong showing on Tuesday night, LeBron James said the Lakers wanted Monk “last year” before eventually signing him over the summer as a free agent. As Bill Oram of The Athletic tweets, James explained that he wanted to find a way to get the former lottery pick to Los Angeles back when his role in Charlotte was inconsistent.
- Jovan Buha of The Athletic explores the Lakers’ options for bringing back Stanley Johnson and suggests that Avery Bradley will likely have his 2021/22 salary guaranteed later this week.
Westbrook is a scapegoat because AD & LeBron don’t create spacing because they combined suck at 3’s.Le Bron needs to stop flopping and complaining to the refs.How many of you seen Shaq flop or whine every time the whistle blows?250 lbs flopping is not a good look and the Lakers don’t historically play Celtics,Pistons,& Bulls style of flopping.Be a man and a leader and quit the cry baby act.It’s embarrassing and it’s not the Laker way to be remembered.IMO LBJ doesn’t crack Lakers all time 5 so how is he the goat?Fainting Goat is more appropriate. Mikan,Wilt,Jabbar,Shaq,Magic,Mr Clutch,Baylor,AD,McAdoo,Worthy,Goodrich & Kobe all pass the eye test.LBJ is great but I have a bunch of arguments rt on this list alone.
I wouldn’t be shocked if RWB is dealt by the deadline.
The fact that his contract has been toxic for years now may finally reap some benefits because it’s almost over.
A treadmill team looking to clear cap space could look to dump serviceable yet long-term contracts. they’d prefer to not have on the books. Then let Russ tank for them for the rest of the season, then buy him out over the summer and start new.
Let’s say the Knicks decided they’d like to be a team that plays in Manhattan with cap room again, rather than a team that signed Evan Fournier.
Fournier – 18.1M
Noel – 8.8M
Rose – 13.4M
Knox – 5.8M
That gets you to 46.1M; Russ makes 44.2M. Lakers can throw in the corpse of Avery Bradley or Trevor Ariza to make the roster spots and $ match .
From LAL’s perspective, Rose is better than RWB right now (and it’s not really close).
Plus you get Fournier, who’s been subpar to date, but in theory could be a fifth starter next to LeBron. And Noel is serviceable as rotation 5. Knox probably not – but you’re still essentially undoing the deal you did last summer.
For NYK you clear the books, let Obi and IQ and McBride prove it or lose it and let the NY Post go back to ruthlessly speculating what quasi-disgruntled star could want to sign in the Big Apple.
That’s a similar route I was alluding to on a previous post. AL was talking ab Randle/Kemba not working together. I think youd swap in Kemba instead of Rose. And Knox would head elsewhere with a pick with a cheaper veteran coming back to the Lakers. The corpses would probably end up on a 3rd or 4th team if NYK didnt want them.
Nice – yeah I could see that, LeBron does love the name players. I could also see Burks being swapped for Rose, there are a few combinations you can build around Fournier.
Honestly would work for both teams too. Westbrook is a better defender than any guard on their roster currently. That fits the Thibs mold.
You right, it isn’t close now or ever, Russ has always been better than D-Rose, like for the last 14 years at least, right?
I mean, SMH!!! Never thought I would read that… OMG!!!
MJ and LBJ are fantastic players.But name 1 rule change that their talent changed?Mikan,Wilt,& Kareem changed rules from high school to college and the NBA.That’s generational talent.50 pts a gm and 20 rbs is the milestone everyone forgets.Look at the hall of fame and tell me how many of the centers went head to head with Wilt and Kareem?I love Michael Jordan but if Magic doesn’t get the aids virus.No way he wins 6 rings.The real goat wore a Lakers jersey for yrs.Mikan,Wilt,Kareem conversation includes only 1 other player and that’s Bill Russell.IMO Russell is the best team player and Wilt was hands down the real goat.Just 1 ole mans opinion,what’s yours ?