Brooklyn Nets receive: F Rui Hachimura 

Los Angeles Lakers receive: G/F Royce O’Neale 

In some respects, these teams were in similar positions leading up to the deadline. Yet, they were vastly different as well. 

Each team had a dilemma where they had incredible talent that just didn’t seem to fit together. On the other hand, the reasons for their poor fits were significantly different. 

The Nets’ players seemingly didn’t fit off the floor. Although Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving appear to have maintained a good relationship, something about them as a duo always felt questionable. Perhaps there just wasn’t enough room in that town for the both of them. 

By contrast, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were simply poor basketball fit.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Royce O’Neale, Los Angeles Lakers & Brooklyn Nets Updates

James is one of the best playmakers in NBA history, so he was never a logical fit on paper with a non-shooting primary playmaker. 

Is he a better fit with O’Neale?