Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal

It’s pretty obvious why the Los Angeles Lakers do the deal.

They need to move on from Russell Westbrook at all costs. The cost of a first-round pick is the least of their concerns. With LeBron James nearing retirement, they need to win now.

D’Angelo Russell should help. For all of the ball-sticking tendencies we just outlined, he’s still a career 35.6% three-point shooter.

Defenses won’t abandon him to prioritize James when he’s camped beyond the arc. He’s also more-than-capable of assisting with ball-handling duties whenever James does need a rest.

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Basically, he’s an upgrade. That’s all that matters to the Lakers. If Anthony Davis can regain his health, the Lakers should contend with Russell in Westbrook’s place.

At this point, that’s enough incentive for the Lakers to do any deal.