The Indiana Pacers are in the early stage of a rebuild and will have plenty of options at their disposal in the upcoming NBA offseason. How could Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook factor into the equation?
The Lakers, who need to move on from Westbrook, will be looking to part with him in a trade and will be able to offer both their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in a deal. With Westbrook being on an expiring $47.1 million contract in 2022-23, he could become a viable option for a team looking to move salary and take on a few assets in the process.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers have a long-held interest in acquiring Buddy Hield — making a logical option as a trade target using Westbrook’s expiring salary.
“The Lakers have a well-documented interest in Buddy Hield, who came to Indiana along with Haliburton in the Sabonis trade and might well offer Russell Westbrook and his $47.1 million expiring contract for Hield and Brogdon.”
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In such a trade scenario involving the Pacers and Lakers, Indiana would have no interest in retaining Westbrook after his 2022-23 salary comes to an end. There would need to be worthwhile draft compensation offered to facilitate a deal.
“With the Pacers presumed to have no interest in Westbrook beyond his expiring salary, such a swap figures to hinge on what sort of draft compensation the Lakers would be willing to furnish to sweeten the deal for the Pacers to participate and then (we can only imagine) part ways with Westbrook.”
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The long-term focus of the Indiana Pacers’ roster construction efforts remains hinged around Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, and their first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Westbrook would certainly take away touches from other players, but regardless, the future benefit of adding first-round assets from the Lakers is worthwhile.
Malcolm Brogdon would bring a needed balance of catch-and-shoot ability, rim pressure as a lane penetrator, and on-ball defense at the point guard spot. The shooting impact of Buddy Hield would bring much-needed layers to the Los Angeles Lakers’ half-court offense, too.
