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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreDespite 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.
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 shotsBuddy 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 shotsT.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
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 shotsDuncan 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
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 shotsKyle 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
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 shotsMalik 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 shotsJordan 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
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 shotsDoug 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 shotsJacob 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 liked this
7 Comments-
Lol, do you proof read these or are you just churning out a different ‘Russ to Indy’ too quickly to notice? I say this because trade #3 seems to indicate we’re trading with Washington for Buddy and Myles but you then list KP and Kuz…
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I would only do trades for one pick. Rob will panic trade, though and blow it. Again.
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Sorry. My bad. An earlier version got posted that used same paragraph as a a template. Fixed now. Thanks for the alert.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThe 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:
1. Trade Russell Westbrook for Multiple Rotation Players
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.
2. Allow Russell Westbrook’s Contract To Expire
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.
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It will be interesting to see what happens over the first 20 games. I think the Lakers have a chance to go 10-10 because 11 games are against teams ranked lower than L.A.
The big question is will a better opportunity present itself in the 40 days before the end of November and our first 20 games. Will Draymond Green or Kyrie Irving be on the trade market? Could Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal suddenly become tired of losing and demand to be traded to a contender?
How well the Lakers play could also impact how soon they trade Russ. There’s a chance the Lakers could land a transcendent player like Kyrie or Dame or Beal but also a chance they could end up losing out on Turner and Hield and having to settle for less as well as sacrificing one of LeBron’s remaining seasons.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed hoping for a better outcome.
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First off, this season was basically sacrificed two years ago when we pulled the trigger for Russ and chose not to keep Schroder or Caruso, Schroder whom we sent out another FRP to OKC to acquire and have now re-signed. Not recognizing how much overlap there is between Russ and LeBron is semi-excusable. Not realizing both players need the same basic supporting cast is not.
This has become about saving face as much as anything. If the Laker send out 2 more draft picks they will have spent 4 first round draft picks on point guards who aren’t on the team anymore. Well, OK, they paid for Dennis twice. He’s that good! There is no positive way to frame that. That is simply a bad look top to bottom and side to side. For that Rob got an extension.
Now here we are, 0-1 with a helluva starting schedule. 20 games in will be one type of evaluation but it may not come down to Ws and Ls. It may come down to something as simple as “is Russ trying?” If so, and he’s putting up decent numbers regardless of the record you can bet, and I guarantee it, set it in stone, codify in the Annex of the Gods and put it on a Shrinky Dink buried in a chest under the Chrysler building, that will be enough to the front office to justify keeping him here for another 20 games.
That takes you to February. Now, in theory, there will be some teams not performing as hoped/expected. Or injuries to teams with banner hopes and contracts/TPEs to send us in a Russ trade for the actual player (remote but not impossible). Which means I guarantee that you can freeze it in carbonite, shape it in Play-Doh dried by the Sun and inscribed on Tablets of Granite placed upon a remote peak of Mt. Shasta that this is the great unspoken hope of the Laker front office. That an incredible series of events will lead to a team actually wanting Russ the player and that a deal of an equitable nature can be struck.
There may be teams that not only want to tank but want to get under the cap while doing it so as not to trigger/continue paying the repeater tax when summer hits. These will be the buyout hopefuls when the Lakers will have footed a huge chunk of Westbrook’s salary and the cost of the subsequent buyout will be highly discounted. This is, I believe, the second most hoped-for option of the Laker front office. So we can’t make it as permanent as the other two but can certainly carve it in a tree, cut the lawn at Jeannie’s house in the shape of it and screen print some shirts with that on it.
December will begin the “anything change for you gu-no? OK, I’ll call again in 20 games.” calls from Rob. These will be Indy not lowering their ask and Utah not lowering their ask. Now, if Utah keeps winning games with that motley crew a mighty conundrum doth rears it’s head and gazes down upon us: do they lower their ask just to rid themselves of impact players in the pursuit of Young Victor? Indy will be bad, they proved that with this basic roster last season. They don’t need to make a trade, they’re already a bottom feeder.
Utah certainly entered into this season hoping to join them and if they’re just good enough not to be bad…honestly…you know…if I were to voice my opinion here…which I’m getting to…I still don’t see Danny lowering his ask. He wants to squeeze assets beyond just VW next summer, he wants the tools to dramatically reshape the roster through the draft and trades augmented by picks. Don’t see that strategy changing and as long as they’re bad enough to get decent lottery chances that’s bad enough for them.
The only guarantee is this: the Lakers will manage the brand better than they will manage the team. This has shown itself to be true over and over and over and over again. To think it will change is utter folly and a waste of time. Might as well wish that the moon was purple and we can walk on a rainbow bridge to get to it. Winning and losing does not change the brand, we lost with the Laker kids and the value of the team went up, up up. We already won one with the AD/LBJ pairing, LBJ is going to break all the super dooper important records in a Laker jersey, the front office is saying all the things a Laker front office is supposed to say but they haven’t acted like a true front office in over a decade now. They won’t, either and that’s another guarantee.
After that? Well, we got both guys for 2 more seasons. LeBron could opt out but he won’t find that money anywhere else. He has never been traded and I wager it’s a point of pride at this point. AD might have the least trade value of his career right now. This upcoming summer is the true last chance to build something resembling a competitive basketball team around LeBron. That might include Myles Turner, it might not. He certainly isn’t aiding his cause tripping over the ball boy during warm ups.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreBy 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.
The Big Question Is What Do the Lakers Really Want To Do?
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.
What Are the Lakers’ Other Russell Westbrook Options?
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.
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The Turner/ Heild chronicles, by Laker Tom. Installment number 147. 🙂
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Lol. I’m sure they’re well-written, I just had to move on. Until he’s not on the team, he is, and I’m rooting for the team.
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This is the perfect storm of two of Tom’s personal pets being linked to the Lakers. So close he can taste it. Still, he can’t see that it really moves the needle so negligibly towards Lakers contention. Even his beloved trade machine shows this only adds 4 wins. 4!!!! So by most accounts that’s a move from 43-44 wins to 47-48. MAYBE enough to get out of the playin. Good lord, he acts like these two Moes are like getting Giannis.
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Man, this has to be the longest offseason I can remember in a long time. I know that it is a challenge to come up with new stuff, fresh takes or different subjects to tackle. But god damned the non-stop barrage of the same exact same player for the purpose of click baiting is just a turnoff for me.
For the past two years it was Westbrook, and before that it used to be KCP and Danny Green. The latter two actually helped us win a chip. It is getting tiring to have dealt with all these “let’s trash Russ” articles. It’s like beating a dead horse over and over. I didn’t like the way KCP and Danny Green were treated here. It was only after they were traded that the team became incompetent around here for trading away such valuable players.
As for Russ, I say let’s ride out his final year. And who knows, he might turn out to be a better player this season than we thought. If not, then let’s move on. But I am willing to support him as long as he is a Laker.
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
Read MoreFrankly, it’s not about the wins or losses but the habits that are formed in preseason. You want to see your best players looking ready to play their best. You want to see role-players who look hungry when put into a situation where that role expands. Above all you want to see the team play hard and just compete at a high level. All those boxes got checked last night.
- Davis looking dominant. Between his legs still coming back into shape from the bubble-2020-21 season grind to his wrist injury it has been awhile since AD looked like AD. This preseason looks different. He’s moving better, playing stronger, and he’s looking smooth in every facet of the game. The best indicator of his legs and arms being right in terms of shooting has been his return to elite status from the free throw line. Davis imposed his will on whomever the Warriors sent his way scoring inside and out, making plays on the defensive end, and generally showing everyone he’s back. Bring that game into the regular season, stay healthy, and the narrative around this team changes instantly.
- Kendrick Nunn making everyone a believer. I love how Kendrick has showed up this preseason. Looking fully healed from The Bone Bruise That Would Not Heal we are seeing exactly what the Lakers were missing all of last season. I love the idea of Nunn coming off the bench and being the first option in that unit as opposed to Russ or Beverley. Nunn can get his own shot, is excellent on catch and shoot plays, and is decent enough on defense to be included in potential closing line ups. As the first option of the bench unit he can just go out and play freely and get buckets without worrying about stepping on anyone’s role.
- Both Two-Ways should focus on improving in the G league. I like the potential in both Christie’s and Pippen Jr’s game, but I don’t need to see them work out how to make it work on the game’s biggest stage this season. Both are too raw for significant roles on the real team, for now, but could certainly see some spot duty later this season. Pippen is crafty with the ball and, like his Pop, has a solid all-around game minus the elite size/skill combo. Christie has the tools and mind set of a potential elite defender but just needs to get reps in everything we’re doing which is exactly what the G league is for. Both can use time just getting shots up at real game speed.
- Thomas Bryant looking free and fiery. I just love how Thomas Bryant attacks the game of basketball. I well remember all the talk about his skills and abilities while he languished on the Laker bench only to see him get away for nothing (a common theme for the Laker front office) and sign with Washington. Back again but with some NBA pedigree and a fire that missing most of a season (but with a summer of work) gives a player, Bryant is the best player to start, in my opinion. It gives the first unit someone who wants to get down the court on the break every play. That’s not LeBron, anymore, and I want AD in the paint on defense as much as possible for altering shots and rebounding. Bryant is fast, he can score in a variety of ways in the paint with athletic finishes or nifty jump hooks and he has a three ball to help in the half court. Jones just has a less dynamic game and he picks up fouls. Fast. Let him be a solid addition to the second unit and let’s go.
- Wenyan Gabriel trying to stick. I like Wenyan’s hustle and he has the physical tools to be an impactful defender. He had some real nice plays last night but his attention to detail can wane, often in key moments when he gets caught looking. He’s still raw (77 NBA games played in total, not even a full season’s worth) and he needs the right role to give him the best chance to succeed, however. Is that on this team? We need guys with size and he’s quick enough to hang with most wings. I can see him being the primary backup to AD or I can see him as the 15th guy on the bench. He doesn’t have a great stroke but he’s athletic. I would put him in with the best second unit guys and see what he has early but could see his minutes go to someone with a more developed and specialized skillset (Ryan, Christie or Harrison, should he make the team over Ryan).
Kudos to Matt Ryan showing everyone who can shoot. Took 9 threes, made six and hit a couple from the stripe. Shaquille Harrison is making more money (due to service time) and is a far better defender but Ryan has the ability to suck a defense out of the paint when he’s hot, as he was last night. We’re talking about the last guy on the roster unless Gabriel is waived, which I don’t see happening but certainly could, so it’s not a team altering choice. Basically comes down to what coach Ham values more: shooting or defense.
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Nice 5 Jamie, I like a Bryant as well. But AD has seen the majority of his minutes at the 5. In a way it makes sense because LeBron hasn’t looked good defending the wing the last couple of years. I think we will bet a better view of what coach Ham is thinking over the next couple of games. As for Ryan, that was a great breakout for him. If can bring that over the next couple of games I could see the Lakers signing him to a non guaranteed contract where they have a couple of months to evaluate him. They could always cut him if a favorable trade arises. Shooting is one of the team’s biggest needs and if he can shoot consistently it wouldn’t be any worse than trading for Buddy. Plus he is 6’ 7” which doesn’t hurt either. As for Nunn, while I expected him to be good but he has exceeded my expectations. For a guy that has missed an entire year, he looks in mid season form. Heck he has looked even better then I thought he could. I also like him off the bench, but if we aren’t making enough 3’s early on I wouldn’t hesitate to add him to the starting 5. I havve no idea how many games this group will win in the loaded West. But if healthy they will play hard and should be an entertaining group to watch.
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While I can see the logic of AD at the 5 I have a hard time seeing that work for a full 48. Not really because of Davis but because of how small the rest of the team is. Starting a big moves everyone down a slot and increases both the starting line up size and also the overall line up size. Still, could see Ham deploy AD, James, and 3 guards. Next two games will provide a little insight.
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We saw how we struggled to win points in the paint and rebounds with AD and LeBron and three guards. Just more reasons to trade for Turner. We get great positional size advantage back and can go small or big.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreA few days before training camp, the Lakers suddenly called off a proposed trade that would have sent Russell Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 unprotected first round picks to Indiana for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.
The repercussions of the decision not to pull the trigger on the Pacers’ trade could impact the present and future of the Los Angeles Lakers. Rather than decide, Pelinka and his front office team opted instead to do nothing.
Not only was that a poor decision but, unless immediately reversed, it undermines any chance the team has to be competitive this season and will force the Lakers to make major midseason changes to their roster.Hanging onto Westbrook until midseason in hopes the Pacers will drop their price or a new superstar will hit the trade market is a strategy the cost of which rises after every loss while hopes for a championship disappear.
Every day spent with the current roster is a day the Lakers should spend integrating Turner and Hield. Wait first twenty games and the season is 1/5 over. On December 15, it’s 1/3 over. By February 9 deadline, it’s 2/3 over.The Lakers’ failure to resolve the Russell Westbrook conundrum before the season has put Lakers’ rookie head coach Darvin Ham in a tough position as the roster he’s been given is not good enough to make the NBA playoffs.
The smart move is to rethink the situation and restart talks with the Pacers. The Lakers cannot afford to be patient and should under no circumstances wait longer than the first twenty games before trading Westbrook.Specifically, here are five reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers need to trade Russell Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 unprotected first round draft picks to the Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield as soon as possible.
1. Lakers Need Strong Start to Season Despite Tough Schedule
Getting off to a strong start is the single most important reason the Lakers need to trade Westbrook and their two first round picks now rather than waiting twenty games or more to see how they do and what comes up.
The simple reality is the Lakers will almost surely end up sacrificing this season if they persist with what appears to be their current plan of waiting to see how the team performs and what develops in the trade market.
Integrating two new starters like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield should be done before the start of the season, not halfway through the season when the team is fighting for playoff position and stability and continuity.What we’re talking about here is the Lakers wasting twenty games or 1/5 of the season and the months October and November to see whether they can somehow win as currently constructed or if the trade winds might change.
Not making the trade before camp was a mistake but one easily rectified by reopening negotiations with Indiana. Every game the Pacers win hurts their chances of getting Wembanyama. Both teams need to move ASAP.The Lakers front office should be encouraged by how LeBron James and Anthony Davis look but the Lakers need a legitimate stretch five starting center, a pair of wings to backup James and Davis, and more shooting.
Having Turner and Hield on the roster before the start of the season would make rookie head coach Darvin Ham’s job infinitely easier and the elevate the Lakers to legitimate contenders to win their 18th NBA Championship.Not trading Westbrook before training camp was a big mistake but one that can be easily rectified by contacting the Pacers and closing a deal to trade Westbrook and the two picks for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield ASAP.
2. Lakers Need Turner and Hield for Ham’s Systems to Work
No disrespect to Damian Jones or Thomas Bryant but, if the Lakers want to run Darvin Ham’s version of the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense and defense, they need to trade for the Pacers’ Myles Turner and Buddy Hield right now.
So far this preseason, the Lakers have lost all three games they have played, including two where their superstar big three started and played well. The good news is the Lakers’ starting lineup has posted a positive net rating.
The bad news is contribution from the center position has been the team’s weakest link as Damian Jones’ defense won the tentative starting role over Thomas Bryant, who is still struggling to return from his previous injury.Rookie head coach Darvin Ham desperately needs the Lakers to make the Pacers’ trade as soon as possible. Ham has done a great job dealing with Westbrook and the team’s unfinished roster that lacks size and shooting.
Implementing entirely new offensive and defensive schemes is a job that needs to be done before the season rather than the middle of the year. The Lakers need to make rookie coach Darvin Ham’s job easier, not harder.The spacing on offense from Ham’s new 4-out sets has already been a huge improvement over the spacing from Vogel’s 5-out sets from last season. James and Westbrook especially are seeing bigger lanes to the basket.
Darvin Ham needs the upgrade to the starting lineup in modern center that Myles Turner and elite volume 3-point specialist Buddy Hield can provide. There are no better fits for what the Lakers need than those two players.The Lakers made a big mistake not pulling the trigger on the Westbrook to Indiana trade before the start of camp. If they want Darvin Ham to succeed as their head coach, the Lakers need to complete the Pacers trade ASAP.
3. Lakers Need Depth from Trade to Upgrade Quality of Rotation
While the Lakers starting lineup has posted a positive net rating so far, the Lakers’ three losses all came from the other team’s reserves dominating the second halves and demolishing the Lakers’ young backups and reserves.
Fortunately, trading Westbrook and two first round picks for Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and T.J. McConnell would enable the Lakers to upgrade their top five backups with the two players who used to start plus McConnell.
The Lakers could then start a lineup of Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Myles Turner backed by T.J. McConnell, Lonnie Walker, Austin Reaves, Jose Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones.One thing that has apparently changed is the Lakers are not going to be pursuing Kyrie Irving either in trade or free agency, a decision that indicates the Lakers want to build around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Building a championship caliber roster with three max contract superstars has become almost impossible in today’s NBA. Making three superstars and a roster of minimum salary players work has not proven to be the answer.The Lakers have no way of upgrading their roster other than trading Russell Westbrook. It’s not even a case of how Russ is playing, The Lakers simply need the three critical rotation players for whom they can trade him.
Fortunately, the addition of Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and T.J. McConnell helps fill the size and shooting holes in the Lakers’ roster, allowing Los Angeles to dramatically improve the quality of their backups and reserves.Swapping Westbrook for three rotation players including two starters who are prefect fits for what the Lakers need transforms the Lakers’ subpar starting lineup and shallow bench into a legitimate championship rotation.
4. Lakers Need Tradeable Contracts to Make Moves Next Summer
The one option the Lakers are unlikely to take is keeping Westbrook all season and allowing his contract to expire. If L.A. did that, they would end up with $30 million in cap space, 3 draft picks, but no tradeable contracts.
Despite talk about pursuing Draymond Green, Myles Turner, or Andrew Wiggins in free agency, the Lakers keeping Westbrook and allowing his contract to expire would likely mean writing off the entire 2022–23 season.
That’s something that’s hard to imagine the Lakers doing, especially after LeBron James signed a two-year extension and Rob Pelinka promised to trade the two picks to transform the Lakers into a legitimate contender.As heady as having as many as three draft picks to trade for a potential third superstar, the Lakers would find themselves unable to make a major move because their only tradeable contracts would be for LeBron and AD.
That’s why during the season the Lakers need to convert Westbrook’s expiring contract into two or three non-expiring contracts that can be aggregated with draft picks to pull off a blockbuster trade next summer.One of the strategic mistakes the Lakers have been guilty of is favoring cap space over tradeable contracts. The Lakers have been reluctant to give out multi-year contracts as they have tried to create cap space for free agents.
The result is the Los Angeles Lakers have found themselves seriously handicapped by not having available tradeable contracts to take advantage when unique opportunities to dramatically improve the team come up.The Lakers need to accelerate their efforts to trade Russell Westbrook and their two draft picks to the Pacers as the team must convert Russ’ $47 million expiring contract in season into to two or three smaller contracts.
5. Lakers Need Pacers’ Trade to Become Championship Contender
Trading Russell Westbrook and their two first round draft picks to the Pacers for Turner, Hield, and McConnell is probably the only realistic path the Los Angeles Lakers have to winning their 18th NBA championship.
It’s mazing watching the Los Angeles Lakers essentially become paralyzed with indecision to the extent that Rob Pelinka wanted every participant in the Lakers front office to agree to support the decision to trade with Pacers.
Expanding the Lakers’ brain trust to include Joey and Jesse Buss as well as Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, and Kurt Rambis only makes it more difficult to reach a consensus. The lack of leadership by Pelinka is a serious defect.We’ve seen the Lakers fumble the ball before as they bounce back and forth between wanting to create cap space and save draft picks, ultimately deciding not to decide or making a dumb move like trading for Westbrook.
There had been hopes that hiring Darvin Ham would give them a visionary around whom they could focus their future moves via draft and trade. Unfortunately, the decision not to do the Pacers’ trade must be reversed.The Lakers not only have a unique opportunity to jump right into the race for an NBA championship this season but also to add three players in Turner, Hield, and McConnell who would be perfect additions to the team. Not only do the Lakers add three invaluable rotation players but they also give LeBron James and Anthony Davis the type of starters and rotation players who can legitimately compete for an NBA championship.
The Lakers have guaranteed commitment from LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the next two years. Adding Turner and Hield will give them a legitimate opportunity to win their 18th NBA championship this season.
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11 Comments-
There’s no question Rob Pelinka’s move to expand the Lakers brain trust that approves trades to include the Buss brothers likely led to the Lakers deciding NOT to trade Westbrook to the Pacers. If there are any stakeholders on the Lakers who value draft picks, it’s Joey and Jesse, one of which will likely replace Pelinka at some point in time,
Frankly, the Lakers only option to save this season is to move now to restart talks with Indy and complete the trade for Turner nd Hield. Wasting time hoping Russ would work or some new superstar will suddenly be available for the Lakers is fools’ gold. Pelinka needs to step up to the plate rather than folding, Who cares who wins the negotiation if you can’t close the deal?
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Aloha Tom,
i have watched the brick fest and personally i feel our lack of shooting has been much more problematic then our center play. neither of us are privey to the way Coach Ham is rolling out his preseason rotations. however it doesn’t appear that anyone has won the starting center spot. jones got the game 1 spot, Gabriel started game 2 and Thomas started game 3. He had 18 points, 7 boards and a block in 24 minutes. if that’s struggling i cant wait to see him when he stops struggling. And a lot of those points were points that Turner wouldn’t get. he often beat the bigs down the floor and smaller players were forced to foul him. he went 8-10 from the line. Running the floor and rebounding are 2 areas that Bryant does better than Turner and both arr critical in Ham’s offense. by the way he drew praise from the coaching staff and media for his good defensive effort. struggling indeed. Perhaps he won the next start. while at this point Turner maybe the better player but the question is how much can he elevate this team beyond what our center rotation of AD, Bryant and Jones can provide. i think waiting is the smart play at this point. The team will have a better idea of what they have and who may become available later in the year. if there was a wing with size that can shoot out there, thats who i would trade a first for. that is our single biggest need. As for a start, i dont know how many more wins a trade would provide. The general consenus around the league is that a Pacer trade may make us a little better its not going to lift us beyond a 5th or 6th seed. So we will have a tough road early regardless.
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Also I think that’s it: Rob can’t close the deal, not w/o being on the slightly losing end. Now we’re stuck with a leader who leads through agreement by cabal. Awesome.
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1) Do you think Ham has been involved or at least partially included in the decision to move forward as is?
2) Do you think LeBron has been involved or at least partially included to move forward as-is?
3) Since it’s been proved to have not been posturing do you think that the Laker Front Office, not you Tom Wong, has gone over this same ground ad nauseam?a
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If the answer to all those questions is “yes” you have your answer. There won’t be a quick trade, knee jerk trade, or a sudden reversal of course because of every single point you just brought up.
Furthermore, because you have 2 players under contract making a tick under $30 mil who are on the roster past this summer your chances of Jeannie signing off on an extension for Turner is compromised. Trade Buddy or McConnell, right? Sure…but you’re either bringing a player back or it’s a TPE. Buddy might help solve the shooting issues, especially with the second unit but he’s 29 and is one dimensional. He’s easily played off the floor and he doesn’t break a defense down by getting in the paint. McConnell is solid, basically like an expensive version of Reaves and keeping Caruso would have been smarter. With Dennis and Patrick and Nunn I don’t see much of a role for a guy who will be here for three more seasons who’s skills can easily be found on the open market every summer for cheaper. Unlike Buddy I don’t see much of a market for T.J. unless you attach a draft asset…which will be much more difficult since all our tradeable picks will be gone.
This trade has always been about Myles Turner, as it should be, but he’s coming onto the market next summer and big men rarely command a large salary these days. Myles and his injury issues may be a turn off for a lot of teams and, armed with cap space next summer, the Lakers can surely match any offer for him should they deem it a worthy endeavor.
There are plenty of teams with a logjam of wings that have a lot of potential but not a real role. That same cap space can be used to bring back a player already under contract with no hard cap penalty, I think that only triggers if they’re signing a new deal.
In essence I think the Pacers trade is settling for an overpay. If the price comes down…I do it but not for T.J. You’ll need a draft pick to move off his salary or buy him out which I don’t see the cheap Lakers doing. Better to bring back a small TPE.
I know you think swapping Russ for Buddy and Myles significantly upgrades the team. I don’t. Adding them would help but neither is going to augment the bench all that much which is the real issue. 12/15 will be when the Lakers re-evaluate and no, it’s not ideal. It does give Ham time to see what he can do. They’re betting on Ham and health. That’s the deal, I don’t see them changing course until at least 12/15 but really not until early 2023 when other teams will have an idea if they’re shooting for a playin or going hard on VW. We can debate the logic but there’s no debating a trade that won’t happen. Not on the timeline basically everyone thought.
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Who says TJ is even on the market. He is their only back up point guard. They are asking for those picks for Turner and Buddy. Why would they just throw in TJ for nothing. Just because they like the Lakers. Lol. They are already going to a low payroll.
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Make the money work, get off long-term salary, go all in on VW. Point is those are, for the most part, the same goals LA has. Except the VW part since we’d swap that pick with NOLA should we end up with it.
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Bottom line those three players really don’t alter the equation much. They’re nominally better than the guys we got.
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They don’t need to make the money work Jamie. Trading Buddy and Turner for Russ leaves them at 109 mil. The following year they would be at 35 mil. That includes TJ. They have mostly rookie contracts at this point.
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They have a new coach, a new system, and a bunch of new players. Shuffling the deck at this point won’t help.
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Lakers want to keep one pick for next summer. I think they will look for trades involving just one pick.
Here are five Westbrook trades, including 4 for only one first round pick, that the Lakers should consider if available. Let me know what you think. Thanks.