Russell Westbrook has played on four different teams in the last four NBA seasons. There is a chance that he makes it five in the last five seasons as this offseason very well could mark the fourth consecutive one that Westbrook is traded during.
The Los Angeles Lakers put all of their eggs into one basket this offseason when they acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. It has been a bust, as there is a chance the Lakers don’t even qualify for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference.
That would be a colossal failure for a team that came into the season with championship aspirations. If they want to have any hope of becoming competitive again next season and making a push for the postseason, another trade involving Russell Westbrook must occur.
He is far from the only reason that the team is struggling this season, but his fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis isn’t a good one. Cutting their losses this offseason and looking to retool the roster is the best course of action.
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Figuring out which team is a good landing spot for Russell Westbrook is not easy. There aren’t many teams that are able and willing to take on a contract of his size. No front office is signing off on a deal that requires them to part with assets, either.
One team that a deal centered around Russell Westbrook might work with is the San Antonio Spurs. This hypothetical deal that was put together has its positives for both teams. The Spurs are receiving Westbrook and a 2027 first-round pick, which is unprotected, in exchange for Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, and Romeo Langford.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this deal will help rebuild a rotation that was surrendered to acquire Russell Westbrook. While they may not be huge net positives, all three would help upgrade the rotation in some capacity. Whether it is 3-point shooting, perimeter defense, or some youthfulness, all three of McDermott, Richardson, and Langford bring something that the Lakers need more of.
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Los Angeles would not part ways with a future draft pick to move Westbrook during the season ahead of the trade deadline, but that may change this offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers have to make a trade and it means trading away a future pick, they need to seriously consider it. Including the draft pick could net them better compensation coming back to the team as well.
Money is also a motivating factor. Los Angeles is clearing a ton of cap space in this deal, which is certainly something the front office would like to accomplish to provide a little more wiggle room to fill out the roster.
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As for San Antonio, they know that they are rebuilding. There are some excellent young players on the team and this is a way to continue restocking for the future. They add to their cache of first-round draft picks, which is the biggest takeaway. Russell Westbrook could be bought out or if he plays for the San Antonio Spurs and performs well, is someone they may be able to flip again down the road for more assets.
