The Jazz, Knicks, and Pacers are among the teams that have spoken to the Lakers about possible trades involving point guard Russell Westbrook and draft assets, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Lakers don’t appear to be close to making a deal with any of those teams, according to Charania, who notes that Westbrook trade talks could continue to take place over the remaining couple months of the offseason.
Because the cap hit on Westbrook’s expiring contract is so substantial ($47MM+), any team that acquires him would almost certainly have to send out at least two sizable contracts of its own. And since few teams can put together a package to match Westbrook’s salary without including at least one productive rotation player, potential trade partners are asking the Lakers for draft compensation in return for taking on Westbrook, who is coming off a disappointing year in Los Angeles.
The Lakers and Pacers have reportedly spoken about Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, but L.A. has been unwilling to meet Indiana’s asking price, which is believed to be two first-round picks. According to Bob Kravitz of The Athletic, the Lakers offered Westbrook, one first-rounder, and two second-round selections for Hield and Turner.
While they continue to gauge Donovan Mitchell‘s value on the trade market, the Jazz could offer some combination of veterans like Mike Conley ($22.68MM), Bojan Bogdanovic ($19.55MM), Jordan Clarkson ($13.34MM), and Rudy Gay ($6.18MM) in a deal for Westbrook and draft picks. Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley are also potential Utah trade candidates who have eight-figure cap hits, though neither can be aggregated in a trade until September 6.
The Knicks’ possible high-priced trade candidates, meanwhile, include Julius Randle ($23.76MM), Evan Fournier ($18MM), Derrick Rose ($14.52MM), and Cam Reddish ($5.95MM), though the team would be more willing to move some of those players than others, and wouldn’t want to compromise its pursuit of Mitchell by jumping the gun on a separate deal involving Westbrook.
Marc Stein previously reported that Utah and New York were both considered by league executives to be possible landing spots for Westbrook. However, Stein suggested that the Jazz and Knicks were probably only viable trade partners for the Lakers if a Mitchell trade got done first — especially if Mitchell ended up in New York.
The thinking among those execs, Stein explained, is that the Knicks may look to move Randle and his long-term contract if they acquire Mitchell. The Jazz, on the other hand, would presumably be pivoting to a full-scale rebuild and would be open to trading more veterans for draft assets and cap flexibility if Mitchell is no longer on their roster.
It’s unclear if any of the Jazz, Knicks, or Pacers would keep Westbrook on their roster if they were to acquire him, or if they’d simply buy him out. Draft picks and/or future cap room would be the main motivators for any team trading for Westbrook.
The perspective of these reports (and thus the post as it based on the reports) appears to be off just a little bit.
It reads as if these teams are contacting the Lakers in an attempt to acquire Westbrook instead of the Lakers contacting other teams in an attempt to unload him.
The Lakers have zero leverage here and they have very little to offer. I don’t see Westbrook being traded without LAL also trading two 1sts (unless they are taking back long-term $$$).
It reads as if these teams aggressively pursue Westbrook service.
Westbook is a hot product.
NBA writers with no real info writing click bait articles. Nothing new to report here.
Shams is always reporting leaks from players perspectives, the lakers have no leverage, and the 2 first rounders probably isn’t enough to unload westbrook, the fact that reporters continue to push this hield and Turner for westbrook narrative is a joke, any of us random people can look at how the market is right now and tell you that trade is nowhere near realistic
Fournier and Randle for Westbrook would be a dream. Gets the Knicks out of the bad moves they made and opens the door next year for salary.
Knicks are historically great at attracting free agents on less than bloated deals. A dream indeed.
I’d say 95% of the free agents out there that teams want are signed to bloated deals. Knicks issue is getting the right FAs and avoiding the really bad ones, such as Fournier, Walker, Noel, THJ, etc. Unfortunately I think Brunson will be another.
Lakers would take this deal
Fournier and Randle for Westbrook
Until the Lakers are willing to give up draft picks there will be no trade of Westbrook. lakers are in a tough place because without draft picks they can’t trade Westbrook but those draft picks are valuable because Laker’s future is dependent on young players. Still best option is buy out Westbrook.
I don’t see Westbrook agreeing to a buyout on the Lakers’ terms before the season. My guess is they give Darvin Ham a couple of months, unlikely as it is, at getting Westbrook to play a productive role. If by January that thas failed then they can tell Westbrook to stay home or take a buyout offer.
Agreed – although I understand not wanting to give up both picks for Hield and Turner (not sure how Turner fits in a frontcourt with Bron and AD and Hield is meh), but when push comes to shove if they don’t cough up both for Kyrie I think they’re a little nuts.
Kyrie for all of his faults is at least twice the player Russ is at this point.
And if anyone can get him to actually be a functioning human being for a season or two it’s LeBron James.
Why would the Pacers even think about him? They’re trying to get younger, not older, plus it would take the ball out of Haiburton’s hands. They want to build around him, not build him around a mid 30 year old guy.
Why not work out a 3 team trade Lakers Knicks Jazz lots of moving parts but could be done…Lakers end up with Fournier and Randle Knicks get Mitchell and Jazz get Westbrook and lots of picks…if lakers are throwing in picks too New York won’t have to include as many
Utah needs to send more money out to make the trade work. They are $10M off, so need to send Beverly to Lakers?
Fans in Utah loathe Westbrook…ugly ugly thought RW in UTAH.
This is the deal I want. The back court will be minuscule but at last the ball would move throughout all shifts and be fun to watch. Hopefully the picks from LA would allow the Knicks to keep one or two firsts. That with the cap flexibility would allow them to to keep building.
I think you all are missing the point in these trade talks. The Pacers will for 2 reasons: 1. They can buy out Westbrook and free up future cap space or keep him for 1 season since he is on an expiring contract. 2. They are in rebuild mode. For that to happen, they will need to get rid of these contracts to start fresh and thats why they are pushing for 2 1st round picks. The reason why the Lakers aren’t biting on moving both 1st round picks in this deal is because they are still holding onto hope to use 1 of those 1st round picks in a possible Kyrie deal.
Exactly. Expiring contracts are attractive to teams who are a year + away from contention. I don’t understand why people can’t get that.
This board gets exponentially dumber when talking Lakers
It’s emotion and hate speaking. As a Laker fan myself, I guess it’s best I just don’t understand any of it
Laker fans get exponentially dumber when talking laker trades. Just because someone is on an expiring contract doesn’t mean you’re going to pick up 2 quality players
How many years have the Pacers been trying to trade Turner? There’s no market for him.
He’s a “Stretch 5” who’s shot under league avg from 3 the last 3 seasons. He’s a 7 footer with the rebound rate of Dejounte Murray. Finally even as a roll man his hands and passing instincts prevent him from being a consistent threat.
Hield has some value – but far superior players to him have been for much less than two far out future 1sts.
I like Tuner but Surfer is correct- Guy is a tad bit allergic to cleaning the glass, isn’t a great facilitator, and is pretty damn inj prone
His value elsewhere leaguewide is probably 1 1st rder that lands around the mid 20’s next year (blah) –
Them thinking they can get 2 unprotecteds here is amusing- All most likely smoke here anyways to spur other teams into possible movement from the Lakers
Hields value is probably 2 2nds and declining filler to match leaguewide
Then tell the Pacers to stop trying to dump two ‘quality players’.
0% chance Westbrook plays for Utah.
Doesn’t have to they just taking him on for the extra pick or picks…they can sit him for a year….but I bet he’ll play if they want atleast something of some star power to keep some fans in the seats for this next season
I think he would force his way out of Utah if that trade happened. He’s made it known how he feels about Utah and the fans here. If the jazz could get some draft capital by taking him, I think they buy out his contract or flip him.
no
Any team acquiring Westbrook can trade him again in 60 days .
Correct?
Many fans would like to see Westbrook in the trade market again and again
Lol
Ditto that!
Here’s a snippet of the discussions
Lakers: PLEASE take him!
Pacers: No
Jazz: No
Knicks: He’s a big name…sure…can we give you a bunch of draft picks for him too?
Here is my trade. Conley, Beverly, Randle to Lakers. Westbrook, THT to Utah, Donavan to NY. Lakers give up 1st round to Utah and a 2nd. NY gives up 2 first rounders to Utah. There will need to be a $1.5M guy thrown in to make the salaries work. Lakers need help at power forward too and if Randle can return to ‘21 form on 3 pointers, all the better. Utah might be getting a little less than they want, but they are also getting rid of salaries for Conley and Beverly. They can buy out Russ. They could come out of this $25M in less salary this year and a crap load less next year.
So you think the Knicks can get Mitchell by just giving up Randle and 2 1sts? I’m gonna guess you are a Knicks fan.
Nope. Lakers. Utah gets 3 1st and 2 2nds. They get rid of Conley 45M. Plus Bevs $13. Not sure how much that relief is worth though. Depends if they can buy out Russ for half.
Irving, Randle, Rose, Fournier and Bogs to LA.
Conley, AD and Beverly to the net.
Westbrook, Nunn, THT, 5 unprotected 1’s and 2 protected 1’s to Utah.
Mitchell, Vanderbilt & Simmons to NY
As a Laker fan Id want no part of that deal
You could insert the names of any team in the first paragraph, and identify who on their roster has a high salary. Every player is a possible trade piece. NYK don’t consider Rose an actual trade piece. You don’t trade a key contributor to a team that’s going to buy them out. A trade like that suggests there are dumb teams on both ends.
3rd team in a KD or DM trade. Take the parts Nets or Jazz don’t want.
Westbrook accepts a BO and then goes to play for whomever.
Mitchell and Randle can’t coexist in NY. Ones a drama Queen the other is a legit Mamba Mentality player star. Randles ego and the adulation DM would get. Would send Randle into deep depression. He’s gotta go ……
Why wouldn’t Westbrook work in Brooklyn. It’s only for 1 yr. KD knows his gm better than anyone. KD you want to show up Bron. Go win with Russ ……,
Knicks get Mitchell and Rudy Gay
Lakers get Fournier and Conley
Jazz get Westbrook, Reddish, Grimes, Toppin 23/25/27 unprotected from NY, Det protected 1st, and Lakers 27 1st 1-4 protected
Knicks do it bc they love Mitchell and Gay fills a nice hole off the bench. They have the Dallas pick in 23 and Milwaukee pick in 25, both very likely to convey, to make up for the lost picks in those years. They have a Washington pick that is likely to convey at some point albeit not 23 (IMO wash is too talented and loaded with young players to miss the playoffs the next 3 years). They also get off of Fournier contract who is a much better fit in LA with Lebron and AD getting all the attention.
Lakers do it to get off Westbrook’s contract and because they need shooters and a secondary playmaker. Conley does both and Fournier can’t do much but he can still shoot 3s pretty well. The almost unprotected pick is the cost of getting rid of Westbrook.
Jazz do it bc they are getting 4 (basically) unprotected firsts and a protected first that could convey if the pistons are improved by 2025, which they should be. They also get 3 guys on rookie scale contracts (2 of whom were lottery picks and Grimes who the league seems to be pretty high on) and Westbrook who should be happy that he gets to be top dog again to rebuild some value surrounded by scorers like bogdanivich, Beasley, toppin and Clarkson. I know he had a problem with a fan there but self interest should prevail. It also lets the jazz go into 23 with stupid amounts of cap space along with all those picks including 4 wembanaya lottery tickets. For context, Westbrook, bogdonovich, pat bev, walker alexander and Beasley would remove 100 mil alone from the payroll. Also ya gotta sell some tickets and Westbrook/Beasley/Bogdanovich/Toppin is enough of a core to miss the playoffs but give the fans some hope.
Who says no?
I’m all fine with Westbrook and Mitchell coming to the Knicks. NY can take a lst rounder from the Lakers, for taking Westbrook back and giving it to the Jazz along with 3 more lst rounders for Mitchell. Westbrook then would be released and probably would sign with Nets to keep KD happy. Randle and Fournier can go to LA. The Knicks can trade DRose, Grimes, Quickley, and Reddish with those 4 lst rounders for Mitchell. Seems fair.
Honestly … the Jazz make the most sense here on multiple fronts.
For one, if they’re tanking they can only tell so many guys to go home. And as it so happens …. a lot of players they’ll want to tell to go home are significantly better than the majority of LA’s current rotation.
Bring in Westbrook, buy him out. Then fill out your roster with young vet min guys and start counting lottery balls.
Bojan (20M)
Beverly (13M)
Beasly (15M)
Clarkson (13M)
If was Pelinka I’d give up Russ, THT, Nunn, and an unprotected/top 1 2027 first for that package and basically rebuild my rotation in one move.
I’ve been 150% on this train for awhile now
MY proposed trade is Rw Christie Wenyen 27 unprotected for Bojan Beverly and Beasley
Now Jazz might want to throw in Gay for Nunn to rid themselves of Gays 6.6 mill in 2024,,, that be ok too and certainly understandable. They’d also shed some money if RW agreed to a b/o for this year
Id be willing to throw a 2nd in as well
If they did work in Gay for Nunn id be ringing Schroeder immediately
The beauty of this trade is it still gives the Lakers a max slot for next offseason if they can pull it off- I think its close in value but Utah def has many teams bidding on these players- Lifting the protections helps, christie helps but still may fall a tad short in the end ////or Jeanie could just plain cheap out under the guise all of Utah;s players only have 1 year left themselves (Beasley does have team option but prolly declined )
Indeed – could be done multiple ways, but if LA doesn’t at least nab one or two rotation guys from Utah I’d be surprised.
Russell Westbrook and Knicks are a perfect fit considering the history of both.
MIA seems to be the perfect fit for Russ, they desperately need a PG!
Uh, they have some guy named Kyle Lowry. You might have heard of him before. Behind him, we have a developing player in Gabe Vincent.
I’d trade for Russ to get rid of bad contracts and create cap space. He’s on a massive expiring and will probably be bought out anyway. Or if he chooses to take the money, just sit him like what happened to John Wall
How do these aeging players manage to end up on such massive contracts? Westbrook, Conley etc. No foresight whatsoever?