Aloha,
There are 3 things you can count on, death, taxes and the Lakers being mentioned as a trade destination for players on the trade block. It happens every year and doesn’t happen, AD being the exception.
Now I have learned to never say never because I have seen some craziness. Pau coming to the Lakers comes to mind. The Rockets rejecting an offer that included Simmons because they didn’t want to deal with Morey is another example. Still it rarely happens.
The 76ers say they are not interested in Russ. And I believe them. Could the 76ers get desperate.? I suppose but I’m not counting on it. He wouldn’t be the best fit. They might have to take a little less, but would still be better.
Now I view the trade machine as a false prophet that leads fans on and makes any trade work. But no one bothers to investigate why the other team would do the trade. Of the big names available the trading team can do better then what the Lakers have to offer.
Personally I am looking for small trades that could help us and the other team as well. For instance, Cam Reddish appears to be on the market. He is a young forward with size and upside that would help our small front line. The Hawks need a quality back up for Tre. Nunn for Reddish would be a win for both teams. Those are the kind deals that could happen. The big names? Not so much. We don’t have the assets.
I take a completely different view of the trade season than you do, Michael. For me, trades are a unique opportunities to upgrade the team. Free agency used to be the key but today it’s trades. It’s how the Lakers were able to leverage LeBron to force a trade for Anthony Davis. I believe what we’re seeing right now with Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons is Klutch’s next move.
While you’re more likely to be right that we end up only doing small deals, I do think there are reasons to be optimistic that the Lakers view this season as a critical season that cannot be wasted. While Rob has not made an in-season trade since he took over from Magic, this year may be the exception. Losing last season to injuries and seeing the slow start to this season has made the Lakers panic and looking for a makeover of some kind.
I base that primarily on the fact that the Lakers are willing to explore trading Russell Westbrook. Risking the team chemistry by looking for trades for Russ is a sure sign the Lakers are serious about blowing up the team that LeBron and AD created with that dinner with Russ at LeBron’s home. They may not be successful but I give Rob credit for having the cajones to to think big. Lakers cannot waste a year of LeBron James destiny by going small.