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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.

Ranking the Lakers’ Three Options for Resolving Russell Westbrook Dilemma

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If we’re to believe what we’re hearing online, the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to decide between going all-in this summer to build a legitimate championship contender or holding onto assets for a mega next summer.

Realistically, what the Lakers are trying to decide is whether sacrificing a long shot chance to win a championship this season would better enable them to make a series of transformative blockbuster moves next summer. Behind the scenes, it appears some in the Lakers’ front office believe they could have a unique opportunity for a superstar reload next summer with $35 million in cap space and three first round picks available to trade.

The Lakers’ challenge is they just signed LeBron James to a 1+1 extension with the ultimate goal of his retiring in purple and gold. It’s doubtful that 37-year old James would approve of the Lakers not trading their two picks. Finally, the last straw suggesting that the Lakers will ultimately give up the two picks and trade Westbrook was the recent signing of long-time Westbrook nemesis Patrick Beverley, thus giving L.A. four point guards.

Are the Lakers crazy for considering sacrificing this season’s championship window to position themselves for a blockbuster next summer where they sign Kyrie Irving and a juggernaut roster and launch their next dynasty? Alternatively, are the alleged limits the Lakers seem to be putting on every Russell Westbrook trade just a smokescreen and positioning by L.A. to convince trading partners they aren’t really desperate to trade Russ?

Let’s check the pros and cons and rank the Lakers’ three options to resolve the Westbrook situation: trade before the start of the season, trade before the midseason deadline, and keep all season and let contract expire.

1. Trade Westbrook Before Start of Training Camp

While trading Westbrook before the start of training camp could still happen, the Lakers’ current position is they prefer to keep him rather than give up both of their available first round picks to move him via trade.

While some in the Lakers’ front office are intrigued with the idea of just keeping Russ for the season and letting his $47 million contract expire, everything else that’s happening is screaming to trade Russell Westbrook. The current roster does not have sufficient 3-point shooting, wing size behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, or experience at the starting center position with the unproven Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones. 

Additionally, the Lakers traded for Patrick Beverley and signed free agent Dennis Schroeder, giving them four point guards. No way L.A. goes into the season with Westbrook, Schroeder, Beverley, and Nunn all on their roster. Strategically, the Lakers have already replaced Russell Westbrook as their starting point guard, leaving Russ in the very uncomfortably position of having to come into camp fighting to start or even make the rotation,

Realistically, the Los Angeles Lakers #1 priority should be to trade Russell Westbrook and picks for two proven quality starter players, even if it costs them both of their available first round draft picks without any protection. They should try to get the Pacers or Jazz to agree to one pick plus a pick swap as having an available pick at the deadline and two picks next summer could be critical if a key player becomes available via trade.

The Lakers cannot risk a second straight disastrous season and, as Jeanie says, the Lakers never tank. Thus, Pelinka needs to trade Westbrook to the Pacers or Jazz for multiple rotation players even if it costs both picks.

2. Trade Westbrook Before Midseason Trade Deadline

Should the Lakers pass on trading Russ before camp, they’ll get a second chance to move him midseason. The only question is whether there will be anything left to save of the season by the time L.A. decides to trade him.

Key dates are December 15th, when recently signed players can be traded, and February 9th, the midseason trade deadline. The Lakers will have played 28 total games as of December 15th and 56 games as of February 9th. That means 34% of the season will be over by December 15 when most players will be able to be traded and 68% of the season will be over by the February 9th trade deadline. Saving season goes from hard to harder.

The risks of waiting until midseason to trade Westbrook are significant. Most teams are not going to want to see what they have before making a trade, which means a trade is unlikely until a third of the season is over. Wait until the trade deadline and then two-thirds of the season is over. Deciding not to trade Westbrook before camp to possibly save one or even two draft picks at the cost of almost certainly tanking the season is dumb.

Once the Lakers commit to bringing Westbrook back, they also commit to trading him before the deadline because otherwise James and Davis will be their only tradeable contracts next summer if they let Russ’ contract expire.
Failing to trade Westbrook at the deadline would leave the Lakers with $35 million in potential cap space for free agents but no tradeable contracts other than LeBron or AD to combine with their three first round picks.

Once the Lakers committed to bring Russell Westbrook back, they also committed to trading him at the deadline for the players with multiple-year contracts that will be their trading chips for a mega trade next summer. 

3. Keep Westbrook All Season and Let Contract Expire

Realistically, the only way the Lakers would have kept Russ for the full season would have been if new head coach Darvin Ham had figured out how to make him and the crazy roster work so they were in contention.

Once the fantasy of Russell Westbrook changing his spots and suddenly improving his shot selection and individual defense has been put to bed, there’s just no scenario where Russ finishes the year in purple and gold. Were that to happen, Russ would be an unrestricted free agent and the Lakers would have $25–35 million in cap space, three first round picks, but no tradeable players under contract to trade except for LeBron and AD.

In other words, the Lakers must trade Russell Westbrook before the trade deadline and the players traded for should be on reasonable and tradeable two-year contracts which would become expiring contracts next summer. The ideal position would be for the Lakers to have two or three players on the roster with contracts that would be expiring next summer that they could flip with their 2023 and 2029 first round draft picks for a superstar.

Bottom line, the Lakers’ strategy seems to be to trade Russ for the best package of rotation players with size and shooting as priorities. That trade must happen before training camp or before the midseason trade deadline. The Lakers need to convert Russ’ contract into multiple tradeable contracts that either end after or can be extended to end after the 2022–23 season, That would give them the best possible position to pull off a mega trade.

To be optimally positioned to pursue a third superstar or mega roster makeover next summer, the Lakers need to trade Westbrook for two or three rotation players who will become expiring contracts next summer.

Rob Pelinka Answers Tough Questions in Imaginary Interview with LakerTom

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Have you ever wished NBA GMs would just say what they mean? Between cryptic comments, posturing, and intentional misinformation, the Lakers have succeeded in convincing everybody what they’re not going to do. 

They‘re not going to take back more salary than they send out in a trade. They’re not going to take back multi-year contracts. They’re not going to give up two picks unless it makes them a true championship contender. What the Lakers do not tell you is what they’re going to do with respect to Russell Westbrook. Unlike the situation with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn, don’t expect the Lakers to make a formal announcement about Russ.

Let’s take quick trip to the multiverse and alternative world where NBA front office executives must answer all media and fan question directly and honestly in this secret imaginary interview of Rob Pelinka by LakerTom.

LakerTom: “What are the Lakers going to do with Russell Westbrook and when can we expect something to happen?”

Rob Pelinka: “We’ve been trying to trade Westbrook but teams aren’t going to make their best offer until we’re close to training camp, which is when we expect to be able to consummate an acceptable deal to trade him.”

LakerTom: “You’ve said you would not give up both available first round picks unless it made the Lakers a legitimate championship contender. With Kyrie no longer available, is there any acceptable trade that would warrant two picks?”

Rob Pelinka: “First, Kyrie was probably the only trade that could conceivably made the Lakers a legitimate championship contender. However, that doesn’t mean the Lakers won’t give up two picks to significantly improve the team. The difference is the two picks have to be used for players who fit AD’s timeline.”

LakerTom: “The Lakers’ current roster appears to be an unfinished product that desperately needs 3-point shooting and better depth and backups behind forwards LeBron James and Anthony Davis that could only come from trading Westbrook. Are the Lakers serious about bringing back Russell Westbrook?”

Rob Pelinka: “Frankly, the last thing in the world we want to do is run it back with Westbrook. Fortunately, we’re confident we can find multiple trades that offer a better outcome than bringing back Russ. We’re just waiting for teams to get to the point where they’re ready to make their best offer.”

“We knew when we started rebuilding the roster this offseason, that the only way we were going to be able to get elite volume 3-point shooters and invaluable 3&D wings we needed was by trading Russ. Those kinds of players simply aren’t available as minimum salary players. This was all part of our original plan.”

LakerTom: “We keep hearing rumors about the Lakers being unwilling to take back anything but expiring contracts in Westbrook trade so that they can keep the $35 million they’re projected to have in cap space next summer to pursue Kyrie. How important is cap space for next summer to chase Kyrie Irving?”

Rob Pelinka: “While we do have a goal of having as much cap space as possible to pursue free agents next summer, we would like to limit any contracts coming back to a maximum of two years so they matchup with LeBron’s and AD’s deals. Fortunately, the top two players the Lakers are targeting — Myles Turner and Bojan Bogdanovic — are both on expiring contracts so in a perfect world, we would love to be able to have as much open cap space as possible.”

“Finally, you have to remember that we are not going to trade two very valuable first round draft picks along with Westbrook for two or three legitimate starters or rotation players unless we’re able and willing to re-sign them to an extension. One of the reasons why we want to trade Westbrook this offseason is we need the starters and rotation players we can get back for him. They’re not only critical to completing this roster but also to serve if needed as trading chips at the deadline.”

LakerTom: “What is your thought about whether a superstar big three or a superstar big two with a deeper more talented roster is the better path to another Lakers’ championship? And would the Lakers be interested in a midseason trade before the deadline that sent Turner and Hield to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving?”

Rob Pelinka: “The general answer to your question is it depends on the superstars and how they fit. The specific answer to your question is yes, we would love to trade Turner and Hield for Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline. In fact, the Nets’ coveting of Turner is one of our reasons for wanting to trade for him now.”

Could Lakers Start This Season With A Better Roster Than Bubble Champs?

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Don’t blink but Rob Pelinka is a blockbuster trade away from pulling off a miracle makeover that could see the Lakers start this season with a roster that’s better and deeper than their bubble championship team.

Think about what a preposterous statement that is because the Lakers, with the roster they have right now, would not even be a play-in team much less a playoff team. But that could change suddenly with a blockbuster trade. What Lakers fans have to remember is LeBron James and Anthony Davis, when healthy and rested, have already shown they can not only lead a team to an NBA championship but dominate the rest of the league while doing it.

What if the Lakers can trade Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, and their 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks for either Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris or Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Patrick Beverley, and T.J. McConnell? Swapping Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract for two players like Irving and Harris or for four players like Turner, Hield, Beverly, and McConnell making the same money could transform the Lakers’ rotations.

Let’s compare the rosters the Lakers would have were they to trade with the Nets for Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris or Pacers and Jazz for Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell, and Patrick Beverley with the bubble champs.

Comparing Lakers After Kyrie Irving Trade to Bubble Champs

Let’s first compare the rosters the Lakers would have were they to trade Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris with the roster of the 2020 bubble champs.

Starters?

Irving and Harris would be upgrades over Caldwell-Pope and Green. While Bryant adds outside shooting, Howard is still the better center. Bottom line, Lakers’ post Nets trade starters would be better than bubble champs.

Backups?

This chart illustrates the hidden strength of the Lakers championship in the bubble was its backups. While Nunn, Reaves, and Jones are comparable to Rondo, Caruso, and McGee, no current backups match Kuzma or Morris.

Overall?

Even with weak backups, swapping Russell Westbrook for Kyrie Irving gives the Lakers a legitimate superstar big three no team in the league can match. Lakers would be among favorites to win it all if they trade for Kyrie.

Comparing Lakers After Pacers and Jazz Trade to Bubble Champs

Now lets compare the Lakers roster if they traded Westbrook to the Pacers for Turner, Hield, and McConnell and Talen Horton-Tucker to the Jazz for 3&D point guard Patrick Beverley with the roster of the bubble champs.

Starters?

Trading Westbrook to the Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield and THT to the Jazz for Patrick Beverley would give the Lakers their best starting lineup in the LeBron era, even better than their bubble champs.

Backups?

While McConnell and Nunn give the Lakers a quality duo of backup guards comparable to what the bubble champs had, Los Angeles still does not have veteran backups who can compare to Kuzma, Morris, and McGee.

Overall?

Featuring younger, more athletic rather than older veteran backups, the Lakers’ roster after trading with the Pacers and Jazz would be bigger, better, and deeper than the roster of the team’s 2020 bubble champions.