Lakerholics

One of only three winless teams in the NBA along with the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers will see what life without Russell Westbrook might be like as they play the Denver Nuggets tonight.

Could addition by subtraction be enough for the Lakers to steal their first win of the season tonight in Denver? The 2–2 Nuggets were blown out by the surprising undefeated Portland Trail Blazers 135–110 Monday night. After blowing an 8-point lead after Darvin Ham put Russell Westbrook back in the game with 4:42 left in the game against those same Trail Blazers, the Lakers will get a chance to play tonight without the mercurial point guard.

The Russell Westbrook situation has put extreme pressure on everybody in the Lakers’ organization, especially rookie head coach Darvin Ham, whose decision Sunday to reinsert Westbrook into the game cost L.A. the win. While the Lakers players as a team have remained supportive of Westbrook considering the situation, they’re also probably looking forward to the opportunity to show what they can do sans the drama surrounding Russ.

Besides being an opportunity to see what the team can do without Russ, we’ll also find out who’s going to replace Westbrook in the starting lineup as it appears inevitable Russ will be coming off the bench going forward. James, Davis, Beverley, and Walker will start so the only question is who will replace Westbrook? Best guess is Beverley and Walker start at the one and two with Juan Toscano-Anderson or Troy Brown Jr. at the three.

The Nuggets have started the season slowly. Both Jokic and Mitchell had subpar games against the Blazers and Porter Jr. will be out due to injury tonight. If the Lakers can continue to play elite defense, they could win. 
Of course, the big question then is whether winning will only encourage Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office to stick by their current plan to wait to trade Russ until after their first 20 games or the end of November.

Realistically, if the Lakers can play great defense and pull of a surprise win in Denver tonight with this roster, Rob Pelinka should take that as a sign this team can be a legitimate championship contender with the right trade.

Per Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers have targeted four players for whom they are interested in trading: the Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, the Spurs’ Jason Richardson, and the Hornets’ Terry Rozier.

The winless Lakers are shooting a historically poor percentage from the field and from deep, losing their first three games despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing well and the defense ranking 5th in the league. They desperately need a legit starting center who can stretch the floor and protect the rim, a proven high percentage, high volume 3-point shooter defenses cannot ignore, and quality forwards to backup James and Davis.

Trading Westbrook and draft capital is the only way the Lakers can add front court size and 3-point shooting. Here’s a trade that brings the Lakers three of the four players for whom they’re most interested in trading. 

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Three-Team Trade Between Lakers, Pacers, and Hornets

The above three-team trade essentially gives the Los Angeles Lakers three brand new starters in Myles Turner, Terry Rozier, and Buddy Hield to go with their two current superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

This three-team trade is essentially two trades rolled into one. In the first trade, the Lakers trade Russell Westbrook and 2027 and 2029 unprotected first round picks to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. In the second trade, the Lakers trade guards Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn to the Charlotte Hornets for Terry Rozier. Overall, the Lakers traded three guards for a new starting point guard, shooting guard, and center.

The trade is essentially a win-win-win trade. The Lakers get three new starters for Westbrook who are young enough to help the team make sure their 2027 and 2029 unprotected picks don’t turn out to be worth much. 
The Pacers, who are tanking, get the Lakers two potential blockbuster post-LeBron unprotected picks as well as helping their tank. The Hornets, who should also tank, get out of Rozier’s 4-year deal with expiring contracts.

It’s not often that a three-team trade is a win for everybody but this could be the exception. It’s the deal the Lakers should be focused on making as it gives them the best chance to compete for a ring now and in the future.

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Lakers’ Depth Chart After Three-Team Trade

Terry Rozier, 28-year old point guard, 6′ 1″, 190 lbs
19.3/4.3/4.5 shooting 44.4%/37.4%/85.2% on 16.0/8.1/2.4 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

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

The Lakers need a Westbrook trade that would elevate them to become legitimate championship contenders. Adding Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Terry Rozier would clearly elevate the Lakers roster to a top-6 team.

The addition of Myles Turner would give the Lakers the legitimate starting center who can both stretch the floor and protect the rim, both important skillsets that the Lakers need from the center position in Ham’s schemes. The addition of Buddy Hield and Terry Rozier would give the Lakers two tested and proven dead-eye high-volume, high-percentage 3-point shooters who made over three and took over eight threes per game last season.

Turner, Hield, and Rozier made 7.5 of the 21.0 threes taken per game last season for an acceptable 35.7%. Westbrook, Nunn (2 years ago), and Beverley made just 3.5 of the 14.1 threes taken per game for a low 24.8%. The Lakers essentially traded Russ and two picks for three starters who transform their starting lineup by allowing LeBron and AD to play down a position and surrounding them with three quality 3-point shooters.

By adding Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Terry Rozier, the Lakers should add at least six more wins, raising their projected win total from the current forty-four wins to the over fifty wins needed to be a top-6 team.

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

The Los Angeles Lakers’ organizational doubt and indecision has left them functionally paralyzed and on the brink of wasting a third straight season of superstars LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ championship potential.

After dominating the playoffs and winning their 17th NBA title in the bubble two years ago, the Los Angeles Lakers have inexplicably spent the last two offseasons foolishly dismantling what had been a championship roster. 
The result was two extremely disappointing seasons where the team did not make the playoffs, finishing 7th in 2020–21 and losing in the play-in tournament and 11th in 2021–22 and missing the playoffs entirely.

While injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis hindered both seasons, poor roster construction by the front office left the Lakers’ roster without needed proven 3-point shooters or quality backups for James and Davis.
Now, after blinking and failing to pull the trigger on trading Westbrook and two first round picks to the Pacers for Turner and Hield, the Lakers find themselves unable to decide what to do with a third bad season looming. 

The reality is the Lakers have been functionally paralyzed by the enormity of the decisions facing the team after two disappointing losing seasons. They’re rudderless with no established culture, direction, or identity to rely upon. 
The hope was rookie head coach Darvin Ham might be the one to provide the franchise with a championship vision and direction but the Lakers front office has failed to give him a lineup with quality size and shooting.

At the heart of the Lakers’ dilemma is their reluctance to give up two first round draft picks that could have to be unprotected for what might not be enough to transform them into legitimate championship contenders. Having promised LeBron they would use their two picks to upgrade their roster, the Lakers will resume looking to trade Russ after Thanksgiving when elite players like Kyrie or Draymond might become available.

The Lakers have bungled the last two seasons’ roster construction and are on the verge of doing the same thing again. Here are two realistic paths for the Lakers to fix their roster issues and become a legitimate contender:

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1. Trade Russell Westbrook for Multiple Rotation Players

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The only reason the Lakers should be willing to give up two first round picks in a Russell Westbrook trade is to get at least two starter quality NBA players worthy of becoming part of the team’s core roster going forward.

Trading Westbrook and the draft capital for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield is exactly the kind of move the Lakers need to make as it gives them two legitimate starters who are perfect long-term fits next to James and Davis. Buddy Hield has two years left on his contract so he aligns perfectly with James and Davis. Myles Turner is on an expiring contract, so the Lakers need to sign him to 1+1 extension to lock him up with the other three.

Basically, the Lakers need to trade Westbrook before the deadline for two or three legitimate rotation players who will be under contract and on the roster this summer so they will have capability to make a mega trade. Otherwise, the Lakers will find themselves in the awkward position of having three draft picks to sweeten a blockbuster trade for a third superstar but less than $5 million in tradeable contracts other than James and Davis.

The simplest and smartest path for the Lakers to take is trading Russell Westbrook for two or three starters who will still be under contract next summer so the team will have the trading chips for a blockbuster move. The Lakers need to remember the only reason to give up the picks is to get back players who fit long-term with LeBron and AD. Giving up even one first round pick for player(s) who aren’t long-term assets would be foolish.

Besides the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Lakers will keep a close watch on the Brooklyn Nets, who might be willing to trade Kyrie Irving if the team gets off to a bad start and decides to look to slash salary and luxury taxes. While the Lakers are willing to wait until after Thanksgiving before trading Westbrook, they realize that they need to move no later than the end of November to have a realistic opportunity to compete for a championship.

Trading Westbrook and draft capital for elite role players like Turner and Hield who are perfect long-term complements to James and Davis is the Lakers’ only path to contention this season and rest of this decade.

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2. Allow Russell Westbrook’s Contract To Expire

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The Lakers’ other path to fixing their roster is to keep Russell Westbrook and allow his $47 million contract to expire, which would sacrifice this season but leave the Lakers with $35 million in cap space next summer.

While that might not be enough to sign a max player like Kyrie Irving, it could be enough to lure away a difference maker like the Warriors’ Draymond Green, who looks like a player who might want to move on. 
The idea of a Lakers’ front court of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Draymond Green is fascinating, especially from a defensive standpoint. Green is also a Klutch Sports client and close friend of LeBron James.

The Lakers would also have their 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks since they did not trade Westbrook plus they will also be able to trade their 2024 first round draft pick on draft day, giving them three first round picks. Unfortunately, everybody on the Lakers except for James, Davis, Christie, and Jones (player option) will be free agents, which means Christie’s and Jones’ minimum salary contracts will be their only tradeable contracts.

That means the Lakers will not have the matching salaries to be able to take advantage of their three draft picks and trade for a third superstar next summer. They would have to be content with what they get in free agency. Whether signing Green as a free agent would justify essentially writing off this season is questionable at best. Keeping Russ seems more like an option if the Lakers were simply unable to find an acceptable Westbrook trade.

While keeping Westbrook would likely cost the Lakers any chance of making the playoffs this season, it would enable them to add $35 million in talent to their roster and potentially have three first round draft picks. 
While the Lakers might have to wait to midseason or the following summer to take full advantage of still having their 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks, they could be the key to a monster blockbuster trade down the road.

While the cost of sacrificing this season is probably prohibitive, the Lakers may end up deciding to keep Russell Westbrook and allow his $47 million contract to expire, giving Los Angeles up to $35 million in open cap space.

By now the Lakers have to know the team as currently constructed is not capable of winning many games and the longer they wait to trade Russell Westbrook, the deeper the hole out of which they’ll have to dig their way.

The league-worst 1–5 preseason record and the humiliating 47-point loss to the Sacramento Kings showcased everything wrong with the current roster and why the Lakers need to trade Russell Westbrook as soon as possible. Waiting could quickly kill any chance Lakers have of making the playoffs. Without a trade, the current Lakers team could easily be 5–15 by November 30, 7–20 by December 15, and 11–32 by the February 9th trade deadline.

Those are devastating starts that would likely doom LeBron James and the Lakers to missing the playoffs for a second straight season no matter for whom they were eventually able to trade Russell Westbrook and their picks. Trying to recover from a terrible start is exactly the kind of pressure the Lakers do not need to pile on rookie head coach Darvin Ham’s shoulders. The Lakers need to realize time is their enemy and not friend right now.

The Lakers must trade Westbrook as soon as possible or risk getting off to a slow start from which they won’t have time to recover. Time to make major changes in personnel is right now, while there’s still time changes to work.

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The Big Question Is What Do the Lakers Really Want To Do?

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The good news is the Lakers are apparently now ready to resume the Russ trade negotiations put on hold during training camp. Now that camp’s over, the Lakers will restart their pursuit of an acceptable Westbrook trade.

Training camp gave the Lakers the opportunity to evaluate their current roster and see if rookie head coach Darvin Ham could figure out how to make Russell Westbrook work with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, what training camp revealed is an unbalanced Lakers roster with too many guards and not enough wings that desperately needs size and shooting that can only be acquired by trading Russell Westbrook.

Besides confirming the team as currently constructed can’t win enough games to make the playoffs, the Lakers could also not help but seeing that Turner and Hield would go a long way towards solving the roster woes.
The Lakers desperately need a legitimate starting stretch five center like Myles Turner to keep Davis at the four and James at the five and a proven starting volume 3-point shooter like Buddy Hield to create floor spacing.

There should be no question in the minds of the Lakers front office brain trust that the Lakers need to trade Russell Westbrook and their two first round draft picks for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield as soon as possible.

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What Are the Lakers’ Other Russell Westbrook Options?

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While it’s hard to imagine a Westbrook trade that’s a better fit for what they need than Turner and Hield, the Lakers do have other options, including letting Russ’ contract expire or trading him for just one first round pick.

In a perfect world, the Lakers would wait and see what opportunities arise before trading Westbrook. Even if a better trade didn’t appear, the Lakers would have over $35 million in cap space if they let Russ’ contract expire. They could, for example, use that cap space to sign Draymond Green, who is clearly leaving the Warriors next summer and whose elite defense, playmaking, and leadership would be great fits next to LeBron and AD.

The other option the Lakers could choose would be to pursue a Westbrook trade that would only cost one first round draft pick, the idea being to be able to offer two first round picks in a blockbuster trade next summer.
There are packages of players from teams like the Spurs or Hornets the Lakers could acquire that would only cost them one first round draft pick. The problem is none of those trades will make L.A. a legit competitor.

While the Lakers do have other options, there is no solution that is a better fit for what the Lakers need than trading Russell Westbrook and two draft picks to the Indiana Pacers for center Myles Turner and guard Buddy Hield.