For the second straight year, the Lakers failed to make a move at the trade deadline, declining opportunities to improve the current roster and saving their 2027 first round pick to package with Russ for a third star this summer.
In a move designed to transform the failed Westbrook experiment into a home run opportunity, the Lakers are willing to write off the rest of this season to position themselves to trade for Damian Lillard this offseason. Best case scenario, the Lakers could package Russ’ $47.1 million expiring contract, Nunn’s $5.0 million expiring contract, Horton-Tucker’s $10.3 million contract, and unprotected 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks.
Leave it to the Los Angeles Lakers to try to turn a failed Westbrook experiment into a home run opportunity to trade for a legitimate third superstar who’s a more complementary fit with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Not only are there no longer any untradeable contracts but there’s also an amazing transformation that happens whenever a significant player contract becomes an expiring contract.
That’s the game the Lakers are now playing and LeBron James and Anthony Davis both agreed to as Rob Pelinka turned down possible trade after possible trade because he would not give up their 2027 first round pick. Having the ability for two possibly unprotected post-LeBron James’ draft picks will give the Lakers the capability to trade Westbrook in a package that will bring back a third superstar who really fits LeBron and AD.
How the Lakers finish the season continues to be paramount. In many ways Los Angeles is still betting the house they can make the Russ experiment work and even rehabilitate Horton-Tucker’s and Nunn’s value as players. Knowing LeBron and AD had to be supportive of the decision, we can expect the Lakers to come together as a team and recommit to finishing the season strong and competing for a championship. Could that possibly work?
To start with, I don’t see any scenario for the rest of the season where the Lakers start winning without Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker playing way better and Kendrick Nunn actually getting back on the court. Without question, I don’t see that happening with Frank Vogel as head coach. Coaches often have a shelf life with players and I think Frank no longer inspires and motivates this team. With 26 games remaining, the time may have come for the Lakers to fire Frank Vogel and promote Phil Handy.
The Lakers showed last night against the Blazers that Russell Westbrook was not their only problem. It’s also clear to everybody that Frank Vogel is not going to coaching Lakers next season. Lame duck coach is not answer. Lakers need to pull the plug on Frank and make Handy the Interim Coach for the rest of the season. That’s a move that would give the Lakers a chance to turn around the rest of this season so they’ll be in good stead this summer.
Lakers cannot leave Frank Vogel in charge of the franchise’s destiny the next 26 games. Time to change coaches and give this team its best chance to salvage what has become a nightmare season for the Lakers and their fans.
Not trading that 2020 RING! Perhaps with pressure off Westy he’ll show up and prove us all wrong. Perhpas tell Vogel and Pelinka, thanks but ya gotta go?
If the Lakers can somehow pull themselves together or if the front office gets some cajones and fires Frank Vogel, then maybe LeBron, AD, Russ, THT, and Nunn can get us out of the fix that their play has put us in. For this plan to turn Russ into Dame, this team is going to need to redeem itself, starting with Saturday’s game against the Warriors. No excuses. Every game counts.