Indiana Pacers Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Myles Turner, G/F Buddy Hield

Of course, many of the Lakers’ 2021-22 failings have been put squarely on Russell Westbrook’s shoulders. Whether that’s fair or not is a matter of perspective.

Westbrook never projected as a good fit alongside LeBron James. His ball dominance and inability to space the floor was always a problem alongside one of the best on-ball playmakers in the NBA.

Still, Westbrook is an objectively better basketball player than Patrick Beverley. Whether he’s more impactful is another question, but Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

On the other hand, Beverley won’t make that list unless it changes its criteria to solely include the amount of “dog” in a player.

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That’s not the only awkwardness involved here. Westbrook and Beverley notoriously dislike each other. Sure, they could learn to co-exist, but that still wouldn’t solve the on-court issues.

Following the Beverley trade, it feels like the Lakers have even more incentive to move on from Westbrook.

Is this the right package to help them do so?