With his value at an all-time low, nobody knows for sure if the Lakers will manage to move off of Russell Westbrook before his contract expires next summer. As an aging, past-his-prime veteran who plays little to no defense, he is seen as a negative asset in the eyes of most experts.
Still, not every team is unwilling to trade for him. While the options are limited, the Lakers do have a number of teams they might be able to work out a deal with.
According to Shams Charania, those teams include the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers.
Utah, New York and Indiana are among the teams that have discussed deals with the Lakers involving Russell Westbrook and draft capital, sources said. There appears no deal imminent in those conversations — as the overall trade market plays out over the next two months of the offseason.
At the moment, it’s hard to see how Westbrook would help the Knicks. Based on his history and status as an All-Star level player, Russ has the potential to provide a major spark for the team, especially if he’s allowed to play his game. Still, he might slow the development of RJ Barrett, who has yet to meet expectations as a 3rd overall pick.
In Utah, Westbrook would likely be a rental player with no other use to the team than to bring in a draft pick and clear up cap space when he eventually departs in free agency. The same could be said for the Pacers, who are clearly focused on helping Tyrese Haliburton become the franchise’s next great star.
So, all three teams have their own reasons for and against trading for Westbrook. On the court, we’ve all seen what he has become. But in the right environment, for the right price, a deal for the disgruntled point guard could bring more good than harm.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll end up, but the Lakers are going to keep trying until the situation works itself out.
