Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Christian Wood, G Eric Gordon, C Daniel Theis, G DJ Augustin
Houston Rockets Receive: G Russell Westbrook, F Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick
Yes. Let’s put two of the craziest contract in the NBA on the same team. Russell Westbrook and John Wall were traded for each other not long ago, and this deal would see them become teammates on the Houston Rockets.
Houston is a rebuilding team this year, and shipping off Christian Wood would hurt, but the other three players they’d be trading are veterans. In exchange for that, and taking on Westbrook’s contract, they’d get two solid young pieces and two unprotected first-round picks.
Talen Horton-Tucker has shown a ton of potential, as has rookie Austin Reaves. Both would receive more opportunities in Houston with the young core they already have. Meanwhile, the Rockets could choose to buy out Westbrook this offseason with only one year left on his contract.
For the Lakers, they’d be getting four decent rotational pieces to help them win now. Wood is obviously the best of the bunch, but the rest of the four would help, too. Eric Gordon is shooting great this year, Daniel Theis would give them an immediate upgrade at center, and DJ Augustin is a decent end-of-the-bench point guard.
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The Rockets would get some young assets for their pool of veterans, while the Lakers would get some extra depth and get off of Westbrook’s contract. The only thing that would prevent this deal is if the Rockets got better offers elsewhere for some of the pieces involved.