With the draft, free agency, and summer league in our rear view mirror, the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook trade strategy is finally unveiled: Plan A is Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris. Plan B is Buddy Hield and Myles Turner.
The good news is the Lakers apparently now have a viable backup trade partner in the Indiana Pacers willing to trade Buddy Hield and Myles Turner for Russell Westbrook and both of L.A.’s available first round picks. The Lakers have offered a package of picks including one first round pick. The Pacers have countered they want two first round picks and will reopen negotiations if the Lakers increase their offer to two first round picks.
Conjecture is the Lakers still prefer Kyrie and a shooter from the Nets over Buddy Hield and Myles Turner because championships are won by superstars and Kyrie is a superstar while Buddy and Myles are role players. They’re also going to need LeBron to sign the 2-year extension when he is eligible on August 4th. Trading for Kyrie would likely guarantee LeBron signs the extension. Who knows if he would sign for Hield and Turner.
Besides wanting a backup in case they cannot complete a Westbrook for Irving trade with the Nets, the Lakers want to create leverage with the Nets by letting Brooklyn know they may lose their only Irving trade partner. Obviously, the big question right now is how long should the Lakers be willing to wait for the Nets to finally agree to trade Kyrie Irving and either Joe Harris or Seth Curry to the Lakers for Westbrook and Horton-Tucker.
August 4th could be a key date as that’s when James and the Lakers can open negotiations on a possible 2-year extension. Right now, James and the Lakers can’t discuss or negotiate the extension or be guilty of tampering. Once James and the Lakers can legally discuss his extension, they can determine whether to continue to wait for a Kyrie Irving trade or take the bird in hand and close the deal with the Pacers for Hield and Turner.
Still unknown is whether the Lakers will be willing to trade both of their available draft picks. Right now, Jeanie Buss has said they will only do that for a deal that returns them to championship caliber, like trading for Kyrie. When you weigh all of the pluses and minuses, you can make a good case that trading for Hield and Turner could ultimately be a smarter move both in the long and short term for Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the end, this is LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, which means shooting for the moon and waiting as long as it takes to get Kyrie Irving, and not settling for second best until there is no chance of getting him.
I doubt the Nets take THT. The deal can be done without him. The whole snafu earlier was the Lakers wanted Curry. The Nets wanted to send Harris to clear salary. If the Nets agree to one pick, I’m sure it will be with Harris. They clear 38 mil with Harris, only 17 mil with THT.
All that matters in the trade, including picks and players, is Kyrie. The rest really doesn’t matter. I would prefer Harris too but then Curry is cheaper and expiring, although you would think that would be something you give in on in this deal. No better fit on the court for the Lakers than Kyrie.
The money will determine who else is included in the trade, should it happen. Lakers don’t want LT contracts so easiest deal to do is Russ for Kyrie and Curry. Problem is that leaves Lakers with no pick to sweeten THT, who needs to be moved for fit and minutes imo.
Hopefully, the Pacers in the picture will create some leverage pushing the Nets to trade Kyrie while they can. I almost want the Nets to say they will not trade Kyrie to Lakers period. I love the idea of the Lakers zigging while everybody else zags and going with two stretch bigs.
But Lakers will risk next season going after Kyrie Irving. Just hope we don’t swing and miss. This somehow reminds me of waiting for Kawhi. Something about trusting the wrong player.
They could include McConnell, which you pitched before, and we include THT. That works too.
I believe there will have to compromise to get a deal done. If the Nets agree to just one 1st the Lakers have to agree to taking back more salary. Harris and Kyrie work for Russ works on the trade machine. No other salary needs to be involved. Harris and Buddy basically have the same contract. Assuming Harris will be ready by the start of the season, this is probably the deal that will be settled on perhaps a 2nd sent. I do no that the Nets won’t take THT, especially if they do send Curry.