Despite frequent clashes in the past, Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley have been in contact since Beverley was acquired by the Lakers via trade from the Jazz, sources tell veteran reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link), who adds that head coach Darvin Ham has informed the two guards that he plans to utilize them together at times.
A report last week from Jovan Buha of The Athletic indicated that Beverley’s addition made Westbrook’s exit more likely, but Stein reported a few days ago that the Lakers have thus far resisted the Rockets’ approach with John Wall last season, having him sit out despite being healthy.
If that’s the case, it stands to reason that a trade would be the most viable path for L.A. to take with Westbrook’s $47.06MM expiring deal, though finding a taker will be easier said than done at the reported price point.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Steve Popper of Newsday suggests the Lakers might be interested in adding a shooter like Knicks wing Evan Fournier in a potential three-team trade between the Jazz, Knicks and Lakers that would send Donovan Mitchell to New York and Westbrook to Utah. Popper mentions Fournier because he’s been involved in trade talks for salary-matching purposes, but because it isn’t sourced, it might just be speculation on his part. Having said that, the Lakers do need shooting, and Fournier shot 38.9% from beyond the arc last season on high volume (7.7 attempts per game).
- Could Westbrook be the missing piece in a Mitchell deal between the Jazz and Knicks? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report explores that topic, floating the possibility of a three-team trade with the Lakers receiving Fournier and Cam Reddish from the Knicks and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Jazz.
- In case you missed it, the Lakers are reportedly still interested in Reddish after trying to deal for him ahead of the deadline in February, we rounded up some Lakers rumors this morning, and recently examined their pre-camp roster situation as well.
Just play out the year with Westbrook then move on for crying out loud.
Or how about trying to improve by getting guys that might fit better ? Why keep him and hope it works instead of getting something for him now
It isn’t going to work either way. That’s the point.
Agree,this team wasn’t even competitive,all hype,didn’t sniff the playoffs. Nothing here.
Do you think that maybe it has something to do with their two best players being out half their games. I believe they missed the play ins by four games and those two players missed a bunch of games like I said half
I would want clarkson instead but that just me
Fournier, Clarkson and Knicks youth to Lakers for those 2 future Firsts
Dump Westbrook is the key to success
Eric Pincus from bleacher report saying what I’ve been saying for weeks.
Lakers send out Russ and picks for Fouriner, Bojan and Reddish.
Jazz want the expiring deal and picks, no one wants to take Fouriners deal on, Lakers want Bojan and Reddish. Overall it just makes sense
Lakers can give up the two unprotected future picks and then get back a protected picks from the Knicks. Helps the Knicks out in giving away unprotected picks but also means they get back a pick which they can use much sooner if they want.
Fouriner I know isn’t a star player but I think he’s a perfect fit for the Lakers team. He’s a really high IQ player which means he often makes the right plays when necessary, he doesn’t try over complicate things, he isn’t demanding he just plays his role and does it well. It’s something that’ll fit well with LeBron James who in the past has had bigger names or better players beside him but they didn’t fit all the time.
Fouriner is also a decent shooter and scorer. He’s not going to give you 25+ points per game like a Kyrie Irving but you don’t need that level of player. He fits the mould of being a third/fourth choice scorer well. For his career he gets 14 points per game shooting 38% from three aswell as 80% from the free throw line. We’ve also seen that for France he is capable of stepping up and playing a bigger role and making big shots when required too.
He offers a little bit of playmaking, a little bit of ball handling and is a good size for a SG 6’6 which is nice if needed.
Lakers don’t need 3 stars and then a bunch of mediocre surrounding them. We have seen what happens with that cause Bron is old and AD is often injured and when those other guys get leaned on they can’t step up.
You have Bron and AD and now surround them with better complementary players. Beverly Fouriner Bojan Schroder Tristan Thompson, that’s a better team and when required Bojan can step up and give you 20 a game, Tristan can give you a double double etc etc. If Bron is off the court you can run an offence through Beverly and Schroder without fear of going down by 20.
I really hope they do pull the trigger and get involved. No need for Clarkson or Beasley who are bigger household names. Clarkson is a volume shooter, with poor defence, isn’t a high IQ guy. Very much a confidence guy. Beasley has heaps of off the court issues and on the court is inconsistent and again not high IQ.
Maybe I’m missing it, but what do the Knicks get back in this deal? They’re trading Fournier, Reddish, and a protected 1st and all they get back is an unprotected 1st (would this be the Lakers 2027)? I’m not sure they’d even consider that.
Fournier’s deal isn’t a good one, but it’s also not an albatross. After this year, it’s an expiring deal (4th year is a team option) and he’s making less than $20 million per season. I’m not sure the Knicks would attach Reddish and a 1st to only get back what could be a comparable (or even worse) 1st.
Knicks think they’re a playoff team right now. Whether or not that’s true, I don’t think they’re interested in making moves for the future that make them worse right now. Squeaking into the playoffs is worth more to them than getting better in a few years.
The Knicks are getting back Mitchell it’s a 3 way trade with the Jazz
Not in the trade that Simmons>Russ proposed.
Yeah 3 way with the Jazz obviously
The article about a three way deal and I said Fouriner Reddish and Bojan that knicks and Jazz players. Maybe I’ll try be more clear in the future
Eric Pincus might as well be posting on this board. He has no sources. He is just dreaming up trade scenarios like we are here.
seeing those 2 “getting along” is just gonna be odd.
I get money changes that in people but it’ll still look odd.
Is it possible that Westbrook just had a bad year last year? Could he return to form this season?
He will be worse this yr.
This is a head scratcher ????
I really McBride and Obi. And want to keep both. But I would have to think about this one.
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Which side says no?
#Lakers receive:
E. Fournier, M. Conley, C. Reddish, J. Clarkson
#Jazz receive:
6 first-rd picks (4 unprotected), 5 second-rd picks, Obi Toppin, Russ, D. McBride, D. Jones, Jokubaitis
#Knicks receive:
D. Micthell, W. Gabriel, R. Gay
tommybeer.substack.com/p/fun-with-the… – 10:56 AM
Everybody except Utah says no.
How many guards do the Lakers need?? Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley, Evan Fournier, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson????
Perhaps a little frontcourt depth??? Anthony Davis is going to miss his usual 25-40 games.
Lakers would say forget about Clarkson and Conley just give us Bojan and then yeah sure.
Knicks wouldn’t give all of that up tho hence why they can’t come to terms.
Jazz want Lakers to be involved as the third deal. Lakers made a deal for Beverly which kind of foreshadows Russ leaving. The only team we are waiting on is the Knicks. They are being tight with their protections and giving up young talent. For me you’d adding a all star player with superstar potential. He also actually wants to come to NY and play for the Knicks which is rare. Between McBride, Toppin, Grimes even in the prime years all three combined won’t be as good as Donovan Mitchell is right now. You’ve got three back up players with potential that’s it.
It’s like a man comes offering you a million dollars for your three betting slips and your like hmmm let me think about it. Even in the 0.00001% chance all three turn out amazing their ceilings are below Donovan so instead of keeping the slips just make the deal and take Donovan Mitchell.
I’d much rather get Randle involved in this trade. He can go to a third team for young players and pick. Than deal Obi1 or McBride. Although I can live with losing McBride. I want to start Obi this yr. He will get a lot of easy buckets with Jalen running point. Gotta find a way to move Randle imo.
Grimes is going to start one day. And getting a 25 yr old Mitchell. Means you have to move him. Cam would be better off in LA. And Jazz can get a pick for him. LA will give him mins. And that’s what he needs to impress. He will learn and play well with Bron.
LA is in win now mode. So they will give up those picks for right trade. I see them definitely doing a trade before season.
Can’t wait for this Donovan soap to ge over.
I don’t understand. Maybe some Knicks fan can explain.
All I heard last year was that Evan Fournier was terrible & having a bad year & Knicks got taken in his contract & should trade him. Now I read Fournier shot 38.9% from three on 7.7 shots a game! sounds pretty good & exactly what the Celtics wanted from Evan.
I know I felt bad when he never got a real shot in the short time he was w our Celtics and the times the Knicks played the Celts, Fournier just killed us.
Is he good or not? Why did everyone besmirch him last year? Was it his fault the Knicks didn’t live up to hopes & expectations?
His D is not there. And really imo was used wrong. He’s best as sixth man scorer. Cause he can play 2-3. Knicks chemistry was bad last yr. With no PG and Rose going down. Then the Randle and Walker drama. Fournier just someone to blame. His contract is not that bad. They guy can score and shoot. He can help us or plenty of other teams.
If he was in a different market no one would be complaining a whole lot.
EF is a good player. He was just a bad fit with the NYK last year. His skill sets were pretty much as advertised (very good shooter, with complementary offensive skills, tough guy, team player, but subpar athlete that is challenged defensively). His salary is in line with his skill sets and his prior contracts (including the one Boston traded for when he was with ORL) and he’s healthy and still in his prime. But that contract does put him at the top of the $$ range that players like him can command, so while it’s not really a liability, it’s not an asset either.
Knick fans are no different than any other teams’ fans. Some can’t have hopes without expectations. Hell hath no fury like a 2k’er with unmet expectations.
Hield and Turner are a much better fit.
I don’t see the downside to keeping Westbrook all season and having $47mil worth of cap space after this year.
And…. tho not a fan, it’s not like he’s a BAD player.
If Utah took on Westbrook, would they buy him out straight away?
I would personally keep and play keep him.
Playing him could build up his value a bit and keep him until trade deadline to maybe include in some trade where some team wants a big expiring contract? (Or multiple smaller if extra teams are added to the mix).
Obviously after the trade deadline he gets bought out. I dont think the salary savings for Utah would be much bigger if they buy him out straight away.
But maybe Westbrook really wants to leave earlier and decides at some point to give up a lot of salary to get this done, you never know…
It doesn’t matter what the Lakers do with Westbrook, any missed time from James or Davis and this team is done.