After the Russell Westbrook trade in the NBA offseason, there was a lot of confidence from many in the Los Angeles Lakers’ outlook for title contention once again. Another superstar with LeBron James and Anthony Davis? That was an easy pick for some.
Now, the Lakers find themselves a staggering six games below .500 as they are 27-33 through 60 games. Westbrook has been abysmal, James looks to be playing through injury still, and Davis is outright sidelined with injury for most of the remaining portion of the regular season.
There doesn’t appear to be an outlook for the Lakers to get out of the situation they currently face. There’s been pressure applied them through the media to part with future assets in order to get off Russell Westbrook’s unfavorable contract. But again, where will that leave them? No Westbrook, of course, but without the necessary assets to make helpful changes to the roster.
During a recent episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned how some people around the NBA are saying the Los Angeles Lakers’ best solution with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the offseason would be to “trade ’em. Trade ’em both.”
“People in the league who have a lot of experience say they should trade ’em,” Windhorst said of James and Davis. “Trade ’em both.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Intriguing Options For LeBron James To Pursue Fifth NBA Title
Whether it’s something that wants to be admitted or not, the Russell Westbrook trade was made with the idea of having another perimeter engine that can shoulder-high usage to help keep LeBron James throughout the course of the regular season leading into the playoffs. That has failed significantly.
LeBron James appears to be playing through a knee issue that he’s mentioned at times as needing rest to fully heal. At 38-years-old, it appears to be in his best interest to move on to go to a situation where he doesn’t have to shoulder such a heavy load and can contend for a championship.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Intriguing Options For LeBron James To Pursue Fifth NBA Title
The Los Angeles Lakers’ overall gamble with the additions of LeBron James and Anthony Davis paid off with them having won an NBA title. However, they are no longer threats to accomplish it again and with how much of their future assets have been leveraged, there’s a case to be made to trade them both.
