The Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended in disappointment last month as the team fell short of the NBA postseason. Los Angeles fired coach Frank Vogel in the aftermath of the season. Still, many expect the team to make adjustments to the roster as well.
The Lakers’ core three stars of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook sound like a great group on paper. In practice, though, the trio struggled this season, meshing poorly on the court even when all three were healthy.
Should the Los Angeles Lakers trade one of their stars, Russell Westbrook has been discussed as the one most likely to be dealt. The Athletic’s Bill Oram, though, expressed doubt at the feasibility.
“The only way for the Lakers to stop digging their hole deeper is to find their way into a position of strength. And the only way they can do that is to convince the rest of league that they are not as desperate to trade Westbrook as everyone believes. That they are content to bring him back for another season and give their big three another chance,” Oram wrote.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers-Rockets Trade For Russell Westbrook Remains An Option
Oram is right. The Lakers lack any sort of leverage when it comes to a Russell Westbrook trade at the moment. Many in NBA circles view the star as past his prime, with a disproportionately large contract.
Westbrook, though, has been traded three times over the course of his large deal. The star moved from Oklahoma City to Houston, then to Washington, and finally to LA in consecutive offseasons.
Many viewed the guard and his mammoth contract as untradeable on the Houston Rockets. Still, they pulled a deal with Washington out of nowhere. Could LA pull off similar magic, and send Russell Westbrook away in a Houston Rockets 2.0 type trade?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers-Rockets Trade For Russell Westbrook Remains An Option
It looks unlikely, as Oram points out. Still, if the Los Angeles Lakers can create some leverage in the situation, look out for a Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets trade 2.0.
