The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that is clearly in need of a shakeup at this moment. Though LeBron James and Anthony Davis are still both playing at a high level, the roster around them clearly needs to be tweaked for the team to be competitive this season.
- The Los Angeles Lakers Get A Veteran Point Guard And A 3PT Shooter
- The Phoenix Suns Will Benefit From Russell Westbrook’s Athleticism And Physical Play
- This Trade Would Change The Dynamics For Both Teams
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The Phoenix Suns are in a similar position to the Los Angeles Lakers, where they have to change something for the team to get far this season. They are currently the 4th seed in the Western Conference and definitely don’t look like the team that went to the Finals in 2021.
Perhaps the two teams can make a mutually beneficial trade with one another. Both teams have veteran point guards on the roster that have been subpar this season. Our trade scenario features Russell Westbrook heading to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Chris Paul and Landry Shamet.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Chris Paul, Landry Shamet
Phoenix Suns Receive: Russell Westbrook
There is no doubt that this deal has clear positives for both teams. In this article, we will dive into why the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns should try to execute this move prior to this year’s trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers Get A Veteran Point Guard And A 3PT Shooter
Though Chris Paul hasn’t quite looked the same this season, perhaps he could improve as the season goes on. His playmaking and playoff experience could be useful for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he is a player that can thrive without taking up a huge role because of his passing. Historically, Chris Paul has also been a good shooter from beyond the arc, as he has shot 36.8% from range throughout his career. There is no doubt that Chris Paul would be solid in a complementary role on the Los Angeles Lakers.
On top of getting Chis Paul in this scenario, the Los Angeles Lakers would also receive Landry Shamet, who has been a solid 3PT shooter this season. As of right now, Shamet is shooting a solid 38.0% from beyond the arc on 4.2 attempts a game, and his off-ball presence should make him a fantastic fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Los Angeles Lakers would have to send out Russell Westbrook in this scenario. Though losing his presence on the bench would hurt, the Los Angeles Lakers could end up getting better by adding two solid veteran players that can play complementary roles next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. One thing to note is that the Los Angeles Lakers would give up no draft compensation in this trade scenario, which would be appealing because they could use their tradeable picks to make a move down the line.
There is no doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers will have to take a risk at some point, and doing so on a legendary point guard like Chris Paul isn’t the worst move. They would also improve their depth.
The Phoenix Suns Will Benefit From Russell Westbrook’s Athleticism And Physical Play
The Phoenix Suns are currently a good team, but it is clear that the team is lacking a player that can consistently pressure the rim aside from Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Perhaps getting a player that has consistently been a solid finisher at the rim would help them.
Russell Westbrook would be an athletic playmaker at the PG position, and his aggression could end up opening things up for shooters like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson in the future. He has also historically done well with a lob/roll threat such as Deandre Ayton. There are clearly benefits of having him on the roster for the Phoenix Suns from a basketball perspective.
On top of Russell Westbrook’s skill set, this trade would benefit the Phoenix Suns from a financial perspective as well. They would be able to clear Chris Paul’s long-term contract off their books, allowing them to pay Cam Payne and sign other players in the future. They could also try and re-sign Russell Westbrook on a cheaper contract at the end of the season, and since they are a competitive team, Westbrook could be more inclined to stay with them after his contract expires.
There is a clear need for the Phoenix Suns to make some roster moves to address the holes currently on the roster. Acquiring Russell Westbrook and moving two long-term contracts could be a start of a small retool focused on building the best possible roster around Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges.
This Trade Would Change The Dynamics For Both Teams
There is no doubt that this trade could potentially change a lot of things for both teams. However, sometimes change is absolutely beneficial to prevent stagnation on a roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers would switch things up and add 3PT shooting and solid ballhandling to their roster in exchange for Russell Westbrook. Chris Paul’s conservative style could be just what the team needs to improve, and adding another floor spacer in Landry Shamet would be a welcome bonus for the Lakers as well.
In this scenario, the Phoenix Suns would add Russell Westbrook to be their starting point guard. Obviously, his optimal role for the Los Angeles Lakers was being the sixth man, but on the Suns, he would have more freedom to be a ballhandler in the starting lineup.
It remains to be seen if the two teams would ever make this deal. However, it is clear that this deal has some appeal to both sides, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.
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