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Are There Realistic Paths for Lakers To Become Legitimate Contenders?

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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:

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.

Waiting to Trade Russ Guarantees a Slow Start to the Lakers’ Season

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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.

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.

5 Things: Lakers win first preseason game in 2 seasons

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Frankly, 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

The Five Reasons Why Lakers Should Trade Westbrook As Soon As Possible

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A 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.

Comparing Lakers’ 2022-23 Roster to 2019-20 Bubble Championship Roster

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There is so much insane emotion surrounding Westbrook and the Lakers’ last season it made sense to objectively compare this season’s current and possible rosters with that of the 2019–20 bubble championship team.

Comparing the Lakers’ current roster with the bubble championship team’s roster is important to see how the current team stacks up against the best team the Lakers have had since James and Davis arrived in Los Angeles. Truthfully, there has been so much controversy over the Lakers’ roster decisions the past two seasons, everybody has forgotten that the 2019–20 bubble championship roster was simply LeBron, AD, and role players.

Frankly, the bubble championship team had many of the same strengths and weaknesses as the Lakers current roster, short on wings and 3-point shooting but long on exceptional athleticism and championship defense. Most importantly, however, this year’s Lakers roster will also have the big advantage of starting the season with a fully healthy and LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the first time in three years just like the bubble champs.

So Let’s compare the top-10 rotation players in the Lakers current roster as well as the same roster but after a potential trade with the Indiana Pacers and see how both stack up against the bubble championship roster.

Current 2022–23 Roster vs. Bubble Championship Roster

Not unsurprisingly, when you ignore the insane emotion surrounding Russell Westbrook and last season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ current roster stacks up very well against their 2019–20 bubble championship team.

Unspoken is the reality this season should be LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ best opportunity to win their second NBA championship because they’ll both be fully injury free and well rested just like in the bubble.
Missing the playoffs is the best thing that could have happened for the Lakers last season as it gave both of their superstars desperately needed time to recover and rest like the Covid shutdown did before the bubble.

Like every Lakers roster, a healthy and well rested James and Davis is the key to the Lakers’ championship hopes. Whether the Lakers go with what they have or make a trade to upgrade, it comes down to LeBron and AD.
The key to winning again for the Lakers is not necessarily having a third star but having multiple role players who not only can step up when needed but also complement and help James and Davis become better.

That’s why the Lakers need to trade Russ. Aside from the risk that he could implode and destroy team chemistry, the Lakers simply need the shooting and size they would get by trading him for multiple rotation players.
Topping the Lakers’ options should be trading Russ and a pick and a swap or 2 picks to the Pacers for Turner and Hield, followed by upgrading the forwards who backup superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

While the current Los Angeles Lakers’ roster could win a championship if James and Davis repeat their bubble performances, the competition this season will demand even more than when they won in the bubble.

Post-Trade 2022–23 roster vs. Bubble Championship Roster

The only reason the Lakers haven’t sent Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 first round picks to the Pacers for Turner and Hield is they’re hoping to be able to wait and see if Kyrie Irving or another superstar hits the market.

Once Rob Pelinka decides that’s not going to happen or the Lakers start to struggle or Russ becomes in issue, expect the Lakers to make a quick decision to trade with Indy rather than allowing the team to fall behind. While giving up two unprotected picks is a high price, the Pacers trade gives the Lakers a chance to compete right now and to build a post-LeBron James Lakers’ team that can legitimately contend in 2027 and 2029 too.

It will be a tribute to Darvin Ham if he can really get Westbrook to be a positive factor long enough for the Lakers to have an opportunity to optimize what they can get in return for their two unprotected picks.
Should Rob Pelinka be able to pull off a trade for Irving or a trade for Turner and Hield that only cost a pick and a swap, it would be a coup for Lakers’ beleaguered VP of Basketball Operations and General Manager.

The thing that makes Myles Turner the perfect fit as the Lakers’ starting center is how he could be the key more than any other player on the Lakers to unlocking the greatness of Anthony Davis and his post LeBron upside. There is no bigger decision confronting the Lakers this season than can Davis take the baton from James. After the bubble, everybody expected that was what would happen but injuries and James’ durability said ‘not yet.’

The one thing that’s clear, though, is the Pacers’ trade would provide desperately needed size and shooting and elevate the Los Angeles Lakers from a projected 34-win team to a legitimate championship contender.

How Long Can Lakers Wait Before Trading Westbrook?

Pelinka has played hard ball on two picks so far, offering them only for superstar players like Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell. While they covet Turner and Hield, they don’t believe that they should give up both picks.

Right now, the Lakers are likely to plow ahead with Westbrook getting a chance to start and fit. Unless the indecisive Pacers finally decide to tank instead of hover at mediocrity, the Lakers plan to play this out step by step. Meanwhile, the Lakers will try to deploy an updated version of the double big strategy that won them a championship in the bubble with an eye on how things are going for Kyrie in Brooklyn and Turner and Hield in Indy.

Hopefully, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will dominate and the Lakers will win enough, Russ will fit in, and Darvin will have them playing tough defense and buying time for options to clear and positions to improve. December 15, when most recently signed players can be traded, marks one third of the season. Unless the Lakers are doing very well, they’d be two thirds of the way through the season by the February 9 trade deadline.

There’s the fear Russ implodes, things blow up in Brooklyn or a new suitor emerges in Indiana. The Lakers need to remember very day spent waiting for Kyrie is a day they should have spent integrating Turner and Hield. Regardless of how well the team is playing with Westbrook, the Lakers need to understand that Turner and Hield will not only make them dramatically better but need as much of the season together as possible.

The Westbrook for Turner and Hield trade upgrades the Lakers 2022–23 roster to be better than the bubble championship roster and a legitimate contender this season and this decade, including in 2027 and 2029.