The Lakers are One Move Away
But Will Rob and Jeanie Work Their Magic?
For the last few months, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss have assured the Laker Faithful they are not done making moves. After a disappointing 33–49 season following the blockbuser trade for Russell Westbrook, the franchise has been motivated to bring itself back in the right direction.
It’s now September, training camp is around two weeks away, and the only trade they’ve made so far is for Patrick Beverley. That’s not an amazing look when you’re trying to get back into title contention with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
With the purple and gold in dire straits, where do they go from here? And how far could a Russ trade take them?
Possible Trades
The Lakers had been shopping Westbrook all summer, engaging in talks with teams such as the Pacers, Nets, and Jazz. Though talks with the Nets fell through, there are still paths to getting rid of Russ via the other two teams.
The main sticking point among all discussions has involved draft compensation, namely the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. The latest reports on the matter are from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, who noted on the “Please Don’t Aggregate This” podcast that the Lakers were willing to include the ’27 pick and a pick swap, but not both picks unprotected.
A similar situation unfolded with the Pacers, where talks were centered around a Westbrook for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner type of trade.
Dilemmas like this have stifled the conversation around a Westbrook trade and delayed hope for fans who want to see him gone, leading to an increased possibility that Russ and the Lakers will run it back.
With training camp coming up, everyone is left to wonder if discussions are going on in the shadows or if the Lakers are starting to confront the reality that this mess might have a sequel.
How Far Could a Russ Trade Take LA?
Trading Westbrook would benefit the Lakers without question, but it is still a matter of who they receive in exchange. The Jazz and Pacers have valuable packages in different ways.
Another deal with Utah would give the Lakers more veterans who would play their roles well and add much-needed depth to LA’s roster. A trade with Indiana would fill all of the Lakers’ remaining holes — shooting, defense, and size — with Buddy Hield serving as a knockdown three-point shooter in the backcourt while Turner operates as an athletic rim runner and protector in the frontcourt.
Either of these deals would, on paper, bring the Lakers out of the “Play-in” expectations set on them by the rest of the league. They each offer players who could contribute at a championship level if given the opportunity, with skills that would fit like a glove under Darvin Ham’s system.
It is ultimately up to the Lakers to do what’s best for themselves, and dealing Russ now gives them the best chance to get back into postseason contention.
Now, if Russ Stays…
There is also the lingering possibility that the Lakers don’t find a Westbrook trade that fits their needs. If that is the case, what could happen next?
Newcomer Patrick Beverley addressed his fit with Westbrook during his introductory press conference (as quoted by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk):
“…a player with that competitive spirit, that fire, that will, that dog, that nastiness, that grit, to have a running mate like that, I have never had that. So I am super excited to see where it goes.”
Beverley also acknowledged the conversations he and Russ will have together if the going gets tough:
“Obviously like any relationship or any marriage, things, we are going to have tough conversations. That is what comes with winning, but I am excited about those conversations, I am excited about the practices. I am just excited to be able to compete with someone like that.”
Head coach Darvin Ham also noted that the duo could start together in the backcourt under one condition:
As for Russ’s fit with the rest of the roster, we already got a glimpse of it from last season. Through all the bad, however, there were still some moments of promise, with Russ being able to dominate with and without LeBron or AD.
Granted, both performances were against lower-tier competition, and the big three could not hold up against legitimate contenders for a number of reasons. However, with a new offseason and motivated mindset from the top down, there is no reason to believe the Lakers can really make this work. It will take a lot from everyone involved, but there should still be faith from Laker fans that the organization can redeem themselves.
Whether a Russ trades breaks through the silence of September or the franchise gives the nine-time All Star and 2017 MVP another chance, the Lakers will continue to face pressure externally and internally. The question now remains: are they willing to make another win-now move, or will they stay put and hope for the best?
