After a disappointing first season in Los Angeles, it may seem like the Lakers would take whatever they can get in a trade this offseason for Russell Westbrook and his $47MM+ salary, but that’s not the case, Marc Stein writes at Substack.com. According to Stein, Los Angeles will have “more boundaries than advertised” when weighing potential Westbrook deals.
For one, the Lakers will seriously consider a player’s injury history as they explore the trade market for Westbrook. Given how costly injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis were in 2021/22, the team doesn’t want to bring on another high-priced veteran who has been unable to stay healthy in recent years.
In Stein’s view, that means the Lakers are unlikely to be very interested in a trade with the Hornets that includes Gordon Hayward, who has missed 61 of 154 regular season games in Charlotte over the last two years, plus both play-in games. If the Lakers and Hornets discuss Westbrook, it’s possible Hayward could be moved to a third team or Terry Rozier could be substituted as a headliner, but those scenarios would be less appealing from Charlotte’s perspective.
Here are a few more items on the NBA’s two L.A. teams:
- Outside of the previously-reported big-name targets who are currently coaching other teams – including Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, and Quin Snyder – the Lakers may consider candidates such as Scott Brooks, Terry Stotts, former Lakers coach Mike Brown, and Jazz assistant Alex Jensen for their head coaching vacancy, per Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
- According to Woike and Turner, people with knowledge of coaching situations around the NBA believe the Lakers‘ open coaching position isn’t looked upon especially favorably, due to concerns about possible front office meddling and the roster/cap situation. “Is the Lakers’ job that attractive?” one coaching agent said. “I’m not so sure it is. But someone will take the job.”
- Getting Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back in their lineup next season will significantly increase the Clippers‘ ceiling, but there are still areas to improve if the team wants to ensure it’s a title contender, says Mirjam Swanson of The Southern California News Group. Fortifying the point guard spot will be an offseason goal, and replacements will be necessary if key rotation players like Isaiah Hartenstein (UFA) and Nicolas Batum (player option) don’t return.
- While Leonard’s and George’s injuries limited the Clippers‘ potential in 2021/22, their absences allowed a handful of young players to step in and grow up fast, Swanson writes in a separate story. Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac, Hartenstein, Amir Coffey, and Brandon Boston Jr. – all of whom are 25 or younger – had bigger roles than they would have if the team had been healthier, which could pay off for the club down the road.
I like the trade rumors that would send Westbrook and Hayward to the third and fourth team.
If the Lakers and Hornets discuss Westbrook, it’s possible Hayward could be moved to a third team
Why would the Hornets take Westbrook?
It’s all about salary dump, IMO.
I’d suggest that Kings take Hayward or Westbrook contract and 2 future unprotected firsts.
Rockets are the 4th team?
Lakers don’t want Wall.
I think the Lakers did want Wall, they just didn’t want to part with the draft pick to make that deal happen.
In February, Lakers wanted Wall but not NOW.
In June, Lakers want better players
If I were Rockets, I’d offer Wood and Gordon for Westbrook and 1 top-3 protected First and 1 lottery protected First.
Rockets would star back court: Westbrook and Wall.
@Sillivan
So join a player who’s combination of salary and a changing industry’s declining opinion about the veteran’s style of play that’s so bad the team chose to pay him in full but NOT allow him to play at all, with the ONE player that most would consider to be an even worse player to have on the roster? You want to introduce that amount of toxicity (on the floor) to the two young and incredibly influenced franchise pieces in Jalen and KP Jr???? Why expose them to that AND stunt their growth?
Rocket’s have made a commitment to KPJ as the point guard. If they trade Wood they will need another big man to replace him. Also Wall and Westbrook have the 2 worst contracts in the league. And Wall can not stay healthy.
There’s nothing about a Westbrick deal that should be appealing to Charlotte. Flip Hayward and some type of assets to Indiana for Turner, then go get Harrison Barnes. Find a 2nd cheap defensive wing and boom, done.
That’s 2 first minimum and probably Oubre +salary filler to match
According to Forbes and other websites
NBA coach annual salary:
Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs $11 million
Chauncey Billups Portland Trail Blazers $2 million
Ime Udoka Boston Celtics $3.6 million
willie green New Orleans Pelicans $1.2 million
Erik Spoelstra Miami Heat $3 million
Doc rivers Philadelphia 76ers $10 million
Mike Malone Nuggets $2 million
Doc Rivers would be great for Lakers coach.
@Sillvan
LBJ is a smart guy. Brown has played a major role on the coaching staff of a winning organization with good culture since leaving Cleveland. He’s seen him as his coach for most of his early career. Then all those years battling against him and the GSW in three finals for 4 years. Maybe he feels this later version of Brown is exactly what he and the Lakers need right now in LA. Someone to insert a good culture into the LA franchise.
The Lakers can take Glenn
BS
Why would Mike Brown go to Lakers when LBJ already fired him twice ? :)
@Michol
LBJ is a smart guy. Brown has played a major role on the coaching staff of a winning organization with good culture since leaving Cleveland. He’s seen him as his coach for most of his early career. Then all those years battling against him and the GSW in three finals for 4 years. Maybe he feels this later version of Brown is exactly what he and the Lakers need right now in LA. Someone to insert a good culture into the LA franchise.
It is an iconic job so someone will put on their rose-colored glasses and take it and be fired after two seasons of 9-10 seeds and losing the play-in games.
If the Lakers are claiming to be fussy about who they get back in trade that Westbrook is part of, they’re pretty much signaling that Westbrook will be a Laker next year…
They hold the Stretch Provision card, so I’d be slightly picky too.
Not being fussy just saying they won’t be bent over and are willing to eat 23′ if theres not a suitable deal
Its smart business, you start running on narrative of sell at all costs well the vultures will circle
I personally think they should just eat 23′ and carry RW but I don’t know if Jeanie and Co are strong enough to just take a sack and live another day
The stretch provision is absolutely the worst case scenario here and should never be used
Fixing Westbrook does not mean he will take Pacers to win championships and win another MVP award
It means
Westbrook finished with top 5 MVP conversation
And take the Pacers to 2nd round playoffs
That is what $47 million is worth
Beggars can not be picky! Hayward would be a godsend for Westbrook. Hornets on the other hand will get of Hayward contract anf acquire expiring Westbrook contract. Westbrook will NOT play a single minute just like Wall.
The amount of contradictions in that short post are truly remarkable
Injured Hayward is 1000x better than selfish Westbrick who only cares about personal stats over wins.
Hayward is a thousand times better than anything Lakers can dream of getting.
Doc Rivers or Quin Snyder?
Quin Snyder 2021 salary is $2 million.
Many reporters want Lakers to run it back and keep the future draft assets.
IMO, Lakers should target play-in game next season.
Phil Jackson
He cant barely get on the plane to travel.
Lakers point of view
Westbrook has positive value because of expiring contract.
Hornets can fix Westbrook (this is huge)
Hayward missed 30 games per season past two years.
Hornets need to attach 1 future draft pick for the Lakers to make another trade.
Hornets point of view
Hayward will be healthy and become an all star next season
Lakers need to attach a future draft pick
Reality turn Hayward into Rozier instead and Lakers add some draft comp
Lakers will not add Gordon, too much risk on top of already too much risk. I never saw any bones to this and this whole article pretty much backs that up (not that teams don’t fake leak all the time)
If the LAL would like a vet that is durable & not injury prone, well… Russ was just that this year, right?
I don’t think the Lakers are going to get what they want trading Westbrook. They may as well hire Scott Brooks to coach the Lakers and have him utilize Westbrook to get his full worth, which is to let him push the ball upcourt and then pass out to LeBron to run the offense (or whoever; why the hell they got rid of Rondo?) if he can’t get a layup. Anthony Davis is the player that needs to be traded and probably will get more for him. Sometimes I think Vogel made this mess because somebody pissed him off. Laker’s don’t need Carmelo Anthony either.