Russell Westbrook remains on the Lakers‘ roster, but only after the front office gave strong consideration to a blockbuster deal with the Pacers, according to Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
L.A.’s top decision-makers, including vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss and senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis, had in-depth talks about dealing Westbrook and the team’s unprotected first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to Indiana in exchange for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, sources tell the authors.
Although rumors about the potential deal were leaked throughout the summer, The Athletic report offers insights into how close it came to actually happening.
The views of new head coach Darvin Ham, along with executives Joey Buss and Jesse Buss were given plenty of weight as the Lakers considered how to proceed, according to Charania, Amick and Buha. A scheduled news conference involving Pelinka and Ham was delayed as the team considered whether to move forward with the Pacers deal.
As general manager, Pelinka has been given the final authority on trades, the authors add, but it appears the Buss brothers are more involved than ever in personnel decisions. It was agreed that everyone in the room should be committed to gambling on Turner and Hield before the Lakers pulled the trigger, and when that didn’t happen, Pelinka opted to take a cautious approach, holding onto Westbrook to see if his fit with the team improves under a new coach or if a better deal arises before the February trade deadline.
Westbrook has been doing what the Lakers have asked so far, sources tell Charania, Amick and Buha. He has met individually with Pelinka, Jeanie Buss and Ham and said he’s willing to accept an off-the-ball role this season. He has also shown a willingness to adapt to Ham’s system throughout training camp, focusing more on setting screens, pushing the ball in transition and trying to set up teammates rather than looking for his own shot.
The Indiana deal was one of several trades the Lakers considered this summer, according to the authors’ sources. They also sought to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Nets and both Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson from the Jazz. Irving will be a free agent in July, but he’s not currently in the Lakers’ plans, the authors add.
In addition, several versions of the Pacers trade were discussed. One involved Westbrook and one of the first-rounders for Turner, while others focused on Hield. Formal talks between the teams began after Summer League, the authors’ sources said, and the Lakers’ initial offer was Westbrook, one first-round pick, and a second-rounder for Turner and Hield. There were also discussions about including a third team, possibly the Grizzlies, but the Pacers were firm in their stance that they wouldn’t agree to a deal unless they got both Lakers’ first-round picks in return.
The contract status of Turner and Hield might have pushed the Lakers to their final decision, the authors add. Turner is headed for free agency next summer and may be able to command $25MM per year in his next contract. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis already on the roster, L.A. was reluctant to have its three highest-paid players in the frontcourt when the league is becoming more perimeter-oriented, according to The Athletic sources. Hield is under contract for $21.7MM this season and $19.2MM in 2023/24 and is reportedly open to being traded.
Lakers with Myles Turner, Bron, AD, Hield and Pat Beverly is a playoff team.
Lakers with Westbrook are an 11th seed
Completely agree. They are dumb for not taking the deal. As valuable as the picks are, making the most of a team with bron and ad is more important right now. This will be another wasted year for lakers.
how do we know the Pacers agreed to a deal and its not just another click bait story or a story planted by Lakers to make Westbrook feel loved. It would be a huge deal for this year but the future will look very poor for them.
2 1st’s for an expiring Turner and 2 years of Hield are not worth it, even if it gets rid of Russ.
But they will be horrible on 27 and 29 so they’ll need to rebuild. Those pics carry value.
Los Angeles Lakers need to be patient and play the year out with this pieces they got and get the best results.
After this season they will have enough money to go after Kyrie Irving.
I’m not going to jeopardize that because they trying to give away two unprotected picks and get Buddy Hield in return.
Buddy Hield is one of the best 10 shooters in the NBA but he’s not worth all that.
I know Myles Turner will come over as well but he got a expiring contract.
I’ve seen numerous people espousing the value of those picks, but the Lakers don’t rebuild through the draft. Very few of their stars were ever drafted by LA. The last time they tried it they became the 2nd team in LA, went after LBJ and traded all those young players away.
You can’t be bad in the LA market for 3 or 4 years while you draft and develop. Your ticket sales will nosedive and you’ll drift into obscurity. The market doesn’t work like OKC. There are numerous other options for entertainment outside of watching bad basketball.
So you think they should trade two number one picks to be a playoff team? Because that’s the issue.
They traded Caldwell-pope, Harrell, Kuzma and the 22nd pick in the 2021 draft who turned out to be Isaiah Jackson for Westbrook which was a poor decision in my opinion so why not?
They’re not number ones picks. They’re first round picks. BIG difference. Can’t assume they’ll be anything. Could drop to 4, if they had the worst record, for example.
The Lakers are already a playoff team. But their season depends on the health of Lebron and AD regardless if they trade Westbrook. Westbrook wasn’t the problem last year.
The health of those 2 guys is the most important thing but it’s also true that Russ is a bad fit for them & the Red River duo of Buddy & Myles are a perfect fit for what they currently need. Theyre a playoff team as long as AD/Bron stay reasonably healthy but those 2 Pacers would make them an even better team & help them withstand injuries a lil better as well
Russell Westbrook going to bounce back and play really good this season.
If they would’ve traded Russell Westbrook and the 2027 and 2029 first round picks for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner that would’ve been a horrible trade for the Lakers.
You don’t trade all that for role players and won that’s a defensive liability.
Lakers didnt do it since Turner is not committed for an extension. Better save the cap and your 2 FRpick for next year.
The EAST got more loaded, still too deep for the PACERS to compete in …….. as the PACERS losses pile up this season, that Hield trade will still be there for the LAKERS or any other team.
Russ ending up in Memphis as the extremely wealthy man’s DeAnthony Melton (after Indy buys him out) is what I’m hoping for. Buddy & Myles definitely make LAL strobg title contenders but Russ in Memphis gives them all types of juice. This would be a win/win/win for all 3 teams imo, esp if Indy can get Reaves along w/ those future picks
Memphis makes no sense since Ja Morant is already a terrible defender. Last year it was their defense that won them many games.
2 thumbs down
LAL isn’t going to trade Russ at this point. They won’t part with both those picks. Nobody has enough cap room that also wants only 1 pick.
weird, seems like a no brainer to do that trade
Yeah, anyone who shot that down has no business making basketball decisions. There won’t be a better deal. You trade the picks and take the bailout.
1. In no way are Turner and Heild going in a pairing anywhere.
2. The draft picks will be worth much more at the trade deadline. All have right now tunnel vision.
There is no reason for the Lakers to rush.
Any trade will come down to who is going to rent Russel for the rest of the season when the deadline comes.
Memphis will is my bet.
No reason to rush?
If LAL don’t stay within top 5 by Feb, AD and Bron will apply for sick leave again.
How will the 2027 & 2029 Lakers 1sts be much more valuable in 4months than they are now?
Memphis has finals aspirations. They have zero interest in a guy like westbrook. Who would they send out making 47 million combined to bring in Westbrook in the first place?
Their current Squad almost took out the Warriors so they’re going to run it back and hope to advance even further this season. No Westbrook in those plans.
Westbrook goes to a team that’s faltering and needs to get rid of a couple of guys that aren’t working out.
Pro-rated salary in Feb.
True, and also the guys coming back.
I’m not sure the picks will be more valuable at the deadline but Russ will be because:
1. He’ll have gone from a full season rental/headache to a 3 month rental/headache
2. He (probably) will play better than he did last year, and even if he doesn’t play better if Bron and AD are healthier then the Lakers will BE better, which will make Russ look better (a rising tide…)
3. A litany of teams that currently view themselves as potentially good will come to the realization that they aren’t and will be willing to mortgage more current assets for future ones
Wow if Russ could flip a switch and
Be a lock down defender
Rebounder and glue guy……..
Any Clippers Fans on this board? As a Clips fan this news pains me, but we all know who the real Southern California team is and it isn’t the Fakers……it’s Leonard’s squad!
Win a chip first before the city respects you fellah.
Mr Cain- I focus on the present and future, not living in the past. Let me sum it up for your elementary level brain.
Clippers= Present/Future
Fakers= Past
Got it?
Cool.
What a clown we just won a championship you never been to the finals LOL
The clippers are loaded, the Lakers are the biggest question mark in the nba . Davis is made of glass. Lebron is breaking down before our eyes, Westbrook is the player no one wants and the rest of this squad is a collective bunch of misfits and castoffs. The rookie coach talks a good game but that’s about it.
Besides go to a chippers blog,oh there is none hahaha NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE CHIPPERS lol
Winning a chip would be nice, but it’s not the only way to get respect.
The Clippers are definitely better than the Lakers right now. Even Sacramento is looking better than the Lakers right now. AD already looks like he’s pacing himself. Laker fans, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Only fakers in LA are the chippers win something before that statement LOL
Looking at last year I don’t know if I would stand on a soapbox as a Clippers fan right now.
Let me change that. Looking at the last 50 years I don’t know if I would stand on a soap box right now as a clipper fan, when comparing them to the lakers.
Mayhem
Well that was dumb
What is the Athletic reporting here that’s new? Did prior reports suggest the LAL didn’t seriously consider the offer? I don’t remember that, only that they thought that two 1st round picks was too much for Turner and Hield.
My thoughts exactly
As another poster put it, this seems like a no brainer. I have to honestly stop and wonder what is happening with the Buss family in making these decisions. They seem to value star power over actual productivity on court, and it seems to skewer all their decisions.
I hope you make the playoffs, otherwise it’s going to be a long season.
At this point !!!!!!!!!
Why would Westbrook even want to play in LA.
I thought going to Jazz was real. Cause then he would of been bought out. Then sign where he wants. Don’t get LA holding on to picks. Conley and Bogdanovic would of helped them.
Westbrook doesn’t care about the same things we do. He just wants to play ball and forget all the chatter. Seemed that way in the first preseason game. It’ll be fun if Westbrook has a great season regardless of what happens.
As for the team, going to be rough when the Lakers eventually have to rest their aging veterans. Likely to happen a lot when their inexperienced bench comes in, too.
Bogey certainly could’ve helped. I’m guessing a Bogey plus Beasley and Gay for Westbrook and both picks would’ve worked. We’ll never know.
Although, so far I’m glad that didn’t happen. I’ve enjoyed Olynyk on this new Jazz squad. The team overall is fun to watch. I like what Coach Hardy is doing.
1. Is Turner even fully healthy?
That’s the only question to ask.
2. Add TJ to the deal since the Lakers wont have a real backup PG after this trade.
3. Lakers could be terrible in 27 and 29 or they could sign players and be fine. LBJ and AD aren’t on this roster in 27 or 29.
That’s the big question mark. I wouldn’t count out a Laker front office with capspace. The trouble is going to be their bench going forward for awhile.