5 Russell Westbrook Trades That Guarantee Lakers Will Make Playoffs

Despite showing great energy and solid defense in a 6-point loss to the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers, it’s obvious to everybody that the sooner the Los Angeles Lakers trade Russell Westbrook the better.

While Rob Pelinka has done a good job transforming last season’s veteran roster into a younger more energetic version, the work is not finished as the Lakers still desperately need more wing size and 3-point shooting. Unfortunately, the only path the Lakers have to fix the size and shooting roster issues this season is to trade Russell Westbrook and draft capital as soon as possible for two or three legitimate starters or rotation players.

Right now, the Lakers are projected to win 44.5 games this season, 8th behind Warriors’ 53.5 wins, Suns’ 52.5 wins, Clippers’ 51.5 wins, Nuggets 51.5 wins, Grizzlies 49.5 wins, Mavs 48.5 wins, and Timberwolves 47.5 wins. Frankly, the Lakers need make a Westbrook trade that would get them 6 additional wins. Winning over 50 games would elevate the Lakers from a 7th place finish and the play-in tournament to a solid top-6 playoff team.

The Lakers entire offseason strategy has been spent trying to find a way to keep one of their two first round picks so they will still have a pick in their pocket next summer to help them make a blockbuster move if available. Pelinka made a huge gamble turning down the Pacers deal before camp and deciding to wait until the end of November to trade Westbrook. What he wants in return is a 1-pick Westbrook trade to elevate them to playoffs.

Here are five Russell Westbrook trades, including 4 for just 1 draft pick, that would bring the Lakers multiple legitimate rotation payers and 6 more wins to bring the team’s projected win total for next season to 50.5 games.

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1. Indiana Pacers: Westbrook and 2 First Round Picks (+6 Wins)

This is the only Westbrook trade that justifies the Lakers giving up both of their available first round draft picks unprotected. The addition of Turner, Hield, and McConnell add needed size, defense, and 3-point shooting.

Myles Turner, 26 -year old center, 6′ 11″, 250 lbs
12.6/6.5/1.0 shooting 50.9%/33.3%/75.2% on 9.4/4.4/2.5 shots

Buddy Hield, 29-year old shooting guard, 6′ 4″, 220 lbs
15.6/4.4/2.8 shooting 40.6%/36.6%/87.4% on 13.6/8.8/1.6 shots

T.J. McConnell, 30-year old point guard, 6′ 1″, 190 lbs
8.5/3.3/4.9 shooting 48.1%/30.3%/82.6% on 7.7/1.2/0.9 shots

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2. Miami Heat: Westbrook and 1 First Round Pick (+6 Wins)

This is the first of the four Westbrook trades that only includes one of the Lakers’ two available first round draft picks. It brings the Lakers two elite volume 3-point shooters who combined take over 14 threes per game.

Kyle Lowry, 36-year old point guard, 6′ 0″, 1296lbs
13.4/7.5/3.5 shooting 44.0%/37.7%/85.1% on 10.0/6.1/3.5 shots

Duncan Robinson, 28-year old shooting guard, 6′ 7″, 215 lbs
10.9/2.6/1.6 shooting 39.9%/37.2%/83.6% on 9.2/7.9/0.8 shots

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3. Washington Wizards: Westbrook and 1 First Round Pick (+6 wins)

This is another Westbrook trade that justifies the Lakers giving up just one of their available first round picks unprotected. The addition of Porzingis and Kuzma give the Lakers needed size, defense, and 3-point shooting.

Kristaps Porzingis, 27-year old center, 7′ 3″, 240 lbs
20.2/8.1/2.3 shooting 45.9%/31.0%/86.7% on 15.0/4.9/5.6 shots

Kyle Kuzma, 27-year old small forward, 6′ 9″, 221 lbs
17.1/8.5/3.5 shooting 45.2%/34.1%/71.2% on 14.2/5.7/3.3 shots

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4. Utah Jazz: Westbrook and 1 First Round Pick (+6 Wins)

This is another Westbrook trade that brings the Lakers a stretch five center and two dead-eye shooting guards who are elite 3-point shooters who take over 15 threes per game in Olynyk, Clarkson, and Beasley.

Kelly Olynyk, 31-year old center, 6′ 11″, 240 lbs
15.9/4.6/3.6 shooting 45.9%/39.1%/84.6% on 12.6/4.5/3.0 shots

Malik Beasley, 25-year old shooting guard, 6′ 4″, 187 lbs
15.0/4.0/1.1 shooting 44.0%/34.5%/66.7% on 12.3/7.3/2.5 shots

Jordan Clarkson, 30-year old shooting guard, 6′ 4″, 194 lbs
10.3/5.2/2.3 shooting 47.0%/36.5%/71.6% on 8.2/4.6/0.0 shots

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5. San Antonio Spurs: Westbrook and 1 First Round Pick (+6 Wins)

This is the last Westbrook trade that only costs the Lakers one of their available first round draft picks unprotected. The addition of Richardson, McDermott, and Poeltl add needed size, defense, and 3-point shooting.

Josh Richardson, 27-year old center, 6′ 6″, 190 lbs
11.4/2.9/2.3 shooting 42.9%/44.4%/94.6% on 9.1/4.3/1.8 shots

Doug McDermott, 30-year old small forward, 6′ 6″, 220 lbs
11.3/2.3/1.3 shooting 46.2%/42.2%/78.4% on 9.1/5.0/1.0 shots 

Jacob Poeltl, 28-year old center, 7′ 1″, 260 lbs
17.5/8.5/3.5 shooting 61.8%/0.0%/49.5% on 9.8/0.0/2.8 shots