Miami Heat Receive: G Russell Westbrook

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Kyle Lowry, G/F Duncan Robinson

We figured we’d start with the low-hanging fruit for this piece.

The Los Angeles Lakers also have a point guard they’d like to dump. The situations are similar, but not identical. Westbrook’s contract is worth almost $20 million more than Lowry’s annually, but it expires two years earlier.

In fact, it will have run its course after next season. Here, the Miami Heat gains an expiring contract at the cost of two albatrosses. That’s a good deal. Why would the Lakers consider it?

Well, they’re desperate. Lowry may or may not be in permanent decline, but at least he can shoot. That automatically makes him a better fit than Westbrook alongside LeBron James. If Lowry’s current postseason struggles are fixable with an offseason of rest, this trade should make the Lakers better in 2022-23.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: NBA Executive Doesn’t Hold Back About Heat Star Kyle Lowry

With LeBron James approaching retirement, that should be the Lakers’ only priority. The future is not something they have the luxury of thinking about.