LeBron James has to be in his feelings right now, and it seems like he is. The King might have to run it back with the same roster that has kept him under .500 for two seasons now, and that is not good news for the Lakers organization or Lakers fans. James himself seems annoyed that another star player has failed to be brought to L.A. Kyrie Irving was the dream target for him and the Lakers, but the point guard is now officially a Dallas Maverick after the blockbuster deal that included Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft consideration was finalized. That means the best-case scenario of Kyrie linking up with LeBron again could be over for good because Kyrie might settle for being a Mavericks player for good.
With the trade deadline only a few days away, the Lakers are certainly scrambling for a way to improve the roster. Only one player truly has trade value right now that is untouchable, and it is the same player who the Lakers have been trying to move since last season: Russell Westbrook. With the Irving deal dead, there are only three trade packages the Lakers can go after with the means of helping LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the court.
While these trade packages do not net the Lakers a player of Irving’s caliber, it brings them a lot closer to making the playoffs and pushing for the Western Conference Finals than keeping their current core together. Here are the only three trades left for the Los Angeles Lakers to consider before the February 9th trade deadline passes, and they all involve former MVP and current 6th Man of the Year favorite Russell Westbrook.
Right The Wrongs And Trade For DeRozan
Lakers Receive: DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls Receive: Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick
DeMar DeRozan is continuing to play like an All-Star this season as he is averaging 26.0 PPG for the Chicago Bulls. Chicago is not one of the best teams in the East this year, holding a 25-27 record which is not good enough for DeRozan or the other players on the team. DeRozan and LaVine were supposed to be a match made in heaven because both players can create their own offense and be leaders of a franchise, but it is not working as their below-average record suggests. Even last year, Chicago was one of the top teams in the East but fell flat as they finished 6th in the East and lost in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Looking back at DeRozan’s track record, he might have been a better fit than Westbrook from the start. As reported, Los Angeles made a massive mistake in not closing a deal on the All-Star offensive player before they went after Russell Westbrook. Before the trade deadline, the Lakers have a chance to close a deal right now because the Bulls could be serious sellers before the trade deadline because they won’t win a championship with DeMar as their best player. The Lakers can add one of the best pure scorers to play the third option behind LeBron and Davis, a scary thought to imagine.
Most importantly, DeRozan can lead the playoff push alongside James while Davis continues to rediscover his best form following yet another injury. DeMar is not the best three-point shooter, and the Lakers need a three-point shooter, but beggars can’t be choosers. The current Bulls star is only averaging 32.9% from three, but 26.0 PPG on 51.1% FG and 88.7% FT is absolutely nothing to sniff at. DeRozan is a legitimate star and a player who can catapult the Lakers into at least a top-5 seed and out of the play-in tournament.
Chicago rebuilds with a first-round pick, which could be useful because the Lakers will struggle to do much of anything in 2027 when LeBron James retires, and Anthony Davis likely breaks down. The Bulls also have a one-year rental of Russell Westbrook before the point guard is off the books for good. Chicago needs to acquire first-round picks to truly boost themselves into a rebuild, so that means the clock is ticking for Rob Pelinka, LeBron James, and the Lakers organization to get back into contention, or another season of The King’s greatness goes to waste.
Two Starting-Caliber Guards For The Price Of One
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson
Utah Jazz Receive: Russell Westbrook
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are gone, meaning the Jazz are not supposed to be trying to win at the moment. Mitchell was a genuine superstar when playing at his best, Gobert won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and the Jazz went all-in by acquiring All-Star point guard Mike Conley Jr. A point guard who will shortly turn 35 years old is obviously not in the plans for a Jazz team that is rebuilding because Utah only should care about Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler right now.
Acquiring expiring contracts benefits their situation because clearing their cap and moving pieces that don’t fit into tanking plans is exactly the goal for any team in Utah’s situation. Conley fits better with the Los Angeles Lakers because he is a far better shooter and defender than Westbrook and will fit perfectly alongside LeBron James in the lineup. The former Memphis Grizzlies star has shot over 40% from three the past two seasons and is a steady point guard who is perfect as a third or fourth option on a championship team. The Lakers could change their entire lineup with the acquisition of Conley, and all they might need to give up the expiring contract of Westbrook, a player who has not exactly lit up Los Angeles since arriving in town.
Perhaps most importantly, Los Angeles will add a capable scorer who can score in bunches as a starter or 6th man off the bench. Jordan Clarkson won the 6th Man of the Year award in 2021 and averaged 16.0 PPG in what was considered a “down year” last season. This year Conley is posting 21.0 PPG on 35.0% from three, strong numbers for the guard. Having a player who can average at least 15 PPG with ease, shoot at least 36% from three, and even go off for 20+ points when feeling hot is invaluable for a contending Lakers team.
Getting two valuable guards for the price of one expiring contract would be a dream come true for the Lakers, and especially for LeBron James. Remember, Clarkson was LeBron’s teammate in the 2018 season when he made the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Lakers certainly win this trade, Russell Westbrook might also win as he becomes the Jazz’s primary ball-handler and performer, returning to his triple-double form. For the Lakers, getting rid of Russ is the primary priority, but only if it brings better shooting, defense, and energy, which this trade does.
An Ugly But Likely Necessary Trade
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Jakob Poeltl
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Russell Westbrook
The San Antonio Spurs are clearly tanking games to be right in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, especially after they traded All-Star guard Dejounte Murray. No doubt, Wembanyama is a very solid talent, and he is clearly the goal for a Spurs franchise that wants to grab a big man to become a long-term replacement for the legend that is Tim Duncan. Trading for Russell Westbrook, who has one year left on his deal, places the Spurs in the position to lose more and get over $40 million off their cap next season.
By surrounding Westbrook with average players, there is no way the Spurs will have enough to make the playoffs. Importantly, San Antonio will clear cap space for 2024 as they will not re-sign Russ and possibly have a chance at acquiring Victor Wembanyama in the draft. The Spurs win no matter what deal they engage in this season, but the Lakers will also slightly improve with a deal that brings them three rotational pieces. In what can be considered a relatively ugly but necessary trade, the Lakers can bring in a center to challenge Thomas Bryant and two sharpshooters off the bench.
Firstly, they acquire a center in Jakob Poeltl, who is 7’1” and 245 lbs and is posting 12.0 PPG and 9.1 RPG this season. Poeltl is not a star, but at his size, he can be an impact player for the Lakers, who have lacked size since their 2020 championship season. Poeltl will challenge Thomas Bryant for the starting center spot and also confirm that Anthony Davis returns to his favored power forward position. For the Lakers, big-man depth only improves their defense which is currently ranked 27th in the NBA in OPPG.
They will acquire a capable perimeter player in Josh Richardson, who can make outside shots and act as a perimeter defender. Richardson is posting 11.4 PPG on 36.4% from three, so he is a player who the Lakers can bring in to compete on defense and be somewhat of a poor man’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Also, they get a sharpshooter who can space the floor well in McDermott, who shot 42.2% from deep last year and is nailing 41.1% of his threes this season.
Not to mention, keeping both valuable first-round picks is definitely ideal for the Lakers’ future, as we have seen in recent trade rumors, and the Lakers might have to accept that they will get two role players at best. No doubt about it, Poeltl, Richardson, and McDermott will help the Lakers get back to one of the top-8 seeds in the Western Conference. This trade does not bring in a player of Kyrie Irving’s caliber but adds three rotation pieces without giving up the valuable first-round picks.
