Rival teams have high demand for Russell Westbrook
With just one day left until the NBA Trade Deadline, time is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers to take a step t…
With just one day left until the NBA Trade Deadline, time is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers to take a step to upgrade their roster. Adding Hui Hachimura was a great start, but if they want to move up the leaderboard and become legitimate contenders, more steps need to be taken.
However, making those moves is easier said than done. Rob Pelinka is a big cripple when it comes to building a trading package given the team’s limited amount of assets. A suitable salary is also very difficult outside of closing a deal around Russell Westbrook’s huge expiring contract.
That’s something the Lakers have been trying to do for months going back into the offseason. Unfortunately, all the negotiations the team had had always came back to their first round picks in 2027 and 2029.
There was hope that Westbrook could rehabilitate its value and that the asking price would drop. For what it’s worth, Westbrook has held up its side of the deal in that regard. He blossomed as the team’s sixth man to come off the bench this season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Sadly, that hasn’t changed how franchises across the league view him. According to Kyle Goon of the Orange County Registerteams hold on to the assets they want to attach to Westbrook in an exchange.
“But even if the Lakers determine that locker room chemistry can take the beatings it took from the Irving trade drama, Russell Westbrook’s $47.1 million contract is its own problem. As SCNG previously reported, this was one of the reasons the Lakers decided to enter the 2022–2023 season with Westbrook.
Goon further explained, “The roster was to rehabilitate its trade value. But a rival front office manager told SCNG that Westbrook still needs a significant draft fee to be moved, probably at least one unprotected first-round pick and maybe more.
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to trade negotiations. If they don’t get through it can really hurt a team’s morale. Especially if a player knows the franchise is trying to trade them.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
As a veteran, this is something Westbrook is probably used to as he has already been traded three times in his career. But that doesn’t make it any easier to hear your name popping up in trade rumors every day.
Pelinka and the front office will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what their next course of action will be. They made a swipe at Kyrie Irving’s landing, but fell short as the Brooklyn Nets. Asked for the Moon in return and traded it to the Dallas Mavericks instead. What’s next for purple and gold is currently a mystery.
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