Aloha
Someone has to put a stop to all this information that is being leaked inside the Laker camp.
The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t in an advantageous position with hypothetical Russell Westbrook trades, but the 17-time NBA champions will still be careful when exploring their options surrounding the nine-time All-Star.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Lakers “have more boundaries than advertised when it comes to weighing Westbrook trades” and that “injury histories would be a prime consideration in any deal.”
With that in mind, Los Angeles is “unlikely to consent to a Charlotte trade headlined by Gordon Hayward,” per Stein.
Stein reported April 7 the Charlotte Hornets were “increasingly mentioned by league insiders as a team to watch on the Westbrook front.”
It really isn’t helpful to let the whole league know this. All it does is make it harder to negotiate with other teams, if they know that Hayward is not a Laker target. All it does is lessen the return other teams may have been willing to give. The entire organization is a train wreck.
This is why I’m not holding my breath for any great positivity to come out of this summer. At best we’ll lateral, at worst we’ll somehow manage another step back…
if you read the entire article it’s obvious that the Lakers are not going to refuse to trade for Hayward because of his injury history. They’re just not going to make him the featured player in the trade and their going to adjust what they give to reflect the risk in trading for Hayward. It’s nothing more than the Lakers posturing to make sure Charlotte knows that part of the price to dump Hayward is going to be including Terry Rozier.
I would even go so far as to require PJ Washington and THT to be added to the deal. Washington is an elite 3&D wing who’s only 23 and could be the most important player in the trade for LA. His defense, 6′ 7″ 230 lbs size, and 43% shooting from deep are exactly what the Lakers need at the three.
While I love the idea of trading for Turner, being able to get Rozier, Hayward, and Washington for Russ, THT, and our 2 picks could actually be our best possible deal. I might start Washington at the 2 to help cover Terry’s lack of size at point guard. Bottom line, Rozier and Washington are two great young players to get for Russ and Hayward is perfect if he can stay healthy.
The only problem I have with Rozier is his size, which makes him almost impossible to play alongside Malik Monk., You can cover for one small defender if the rest of the lineup has great size but two smalls will often lead to a leaky defense.
Turner, Brogdon, and Hield is still first for me.
But Hayward, Rozier, and Washington is close second.
I did read the whole article. Obviously you got a lot more out of it than I did. Lol.
Stein does NOT say Lakers will not trade for Hayward, just that they wouldn’t make a trade where he is the headliner.
“Yet it has since been conveyed to me that the Lakers have more boundaries than advertised when it comes to weighing Westbrook trades. One league source said that injury histories would be a prime consideration in any deal, given how injuries have so routinely intruded upon the last two seasons for both 37-year-old LeBron James and 29-year-old Anthony Davis.
“Translation: The Lakers are unlikely to consent to a Charlotte trade headlined by Gordon Hayward — not after Hayward’s first two seasons in Charlotte have likewise been injury-filled. The Lakers surely understand that they need to factor in durability if they are taking on long-term money, which suggests that Terry Rozier would have to be the Southern California-bound headliner if the Hornets and Lakers eventually progress to serious trade talks.”
If we got Washington I’d be stoked. I think they use cap space to sign him to an extension as he likely figures to be a part of their plans going forward.
Word is they may have to give max deals to Ball and Bridges so may prefer to move Washington, who’s also up for a big raise after next season.
First, the stories saying the Lakers don’t want to trade for Hayward are just posturing by LA. They just don’t want Gordon to be the reason for the trade.
Their position is that Terry Rozier is the featured player. They will take Hayward because that’s what Charlotte wants but they should cover Hayward’s injury risk by making PJ Washington as the third player and insurance in case Hayward gets hurt again.
That’s a trade that makes sense:
Lakers get Hayward, Rozier, and Washington
Hornets get Russ, THT, and 2 first round picks.