The chances of the Los Angeles Lakers finding a team that would be willing to trade for Russell Westbrook ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline sounded like it was virtually zero a few weeks ago. However, recently, there has been a little glimmer of hope that trade is possible.
The Houston Rockets have recently emerged as a potential suitor. John Wall has been mentioned as someone that could head back to Los Angeles in a potential deal. While Marc Stein said a deal is unlikely ahead of the deadline, it is still interesting that the Rockets have emerged as a team that could show interest in acquiring him.
The Rockets originally acquired Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. He spent one season with them before he was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Wall. The Wizards then traded him to the Lakers and now there is a chance he is swapped for Wall a second time.
The Rockets are only interested in making a deal if it is on their terms. They want the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick and anything short of that likely won’t pique their interest. However, if the Lakers get desperate enough to shake things up, they could end up including that pick in a trade package.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Are Lakers, Rockets Primed For Wall-Westbrook Trade 2.0?
One interesting tidbit to this potential deal is that the Houston Rockets have no interest in Russell Westbrook suiting up for them.
Given the current state of the roster, as they are in a rebuild, they wouldn’t want the veteran point guard playing for them, which is the same stance they have with Wall.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Are Lakers, Rockets Primed For Wall-Westbrook Trade 2.0?
The one big difference between Wall and Westbrook, though, is that the Rockets would engage in buyout talks with Westbrook. That is something Wall has no interest in.
I included a line in there about how the Rockets have zero interest in Westbrook actually playing for them again, but I didn’t properly expound on the buyout that would be required after such a trade. Westbrook is owed $47 million next season. If the Lakers actually reached the point that they were willing to send their 2027 first-round pick to the Rockets to convince them to ship out John Wall and take Westbrook back, it is expected that Westbrook and Houston would swiftly enter buyout talks.
If the trade actually occurred and the Houston Rockets then discussed a buyout with Russell Westbrook, it would be a huge win for the team. Extracting any value from a trade involving Wall would be impressive. While Houston would be fronting a ton of money to move on from Westbrook, long-term it is a deal that would be great for them.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Are Lakers, Rockets Primed For Wall-Westbrook Trade 2.0?
That 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick could be extremely valuable. The current state of the franchise isn’t great, but in five years when that pick is conveyed, things could be even worse. Every franchise that LeBron James is on goes into a downward spiral once he leaves.
Los Angeles looks like the same thing will happen to them unless they change course and look to trade someone such as Anthony Davis, who would help restock the draft capital and balance out the roster.
