OT: Westbrook to The Lakers

[UCLJ0211]

Sources: Los Angeles Lakers reach deal to acquire Russell Westbrook, sending 3-player package and pick to Washington Wizards

The Lakers have agreed to a deal with the Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the No. 22 pick Thursday night, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

www.espn.com

Should put them back in championship contention again next year.

 

[Tampahusky]

This team is going to be fun to watch on how bad they will shoot it. NBA is a 3point league and they have no shooting.

 

[tzznandrew]

I really don't understand how he fits. I think this is a really bad trade.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I really don't understand how he fits. I think this is a really bad trade.

It's very easy to see this one going up in flames. I'm not sure how Westbrook can coexist with AD and Lebron without this whole thing getting real dysfunctional.

 

[Psolo12]

I really don't understand how he fits. I think this is a really bad trade.

Agreed 100%. He doesn't check any boxes for what they needed. Buddy Hield was a much better fit.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

if internet rumors are to be believed this is supposedly a 3 team trade with lakers getting westbrook + hield (can’t be announced yet due to schroeder s&t), which would make it a bit more palatable.

not a fan of the westbrook fit. the only saving grace is having someone to offload ballhandling/playmaking from bron and run the team while he is on the bench. although 40+ million for that is extreme…

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I really don't understand how he fits. I think this is a really bad trade.

yes and no. I don’t think it is a great fit, but I don’t think Kuzma and Harrell have much trade value, and while KCP is decent, average shooting wing guards grow on trees. Lakers got more than they gave.

 

[Chin Diesel]

This will pretty much be the introduction from Lebron to Westbrook.

 

[superjohn]

I'm not a Westbrook fan but they gave up 3 rotational pieces and a late first rounder for a star. The Lakers made out like bandits like they always do.

 

[tzznandrew]

if internet rumors are to be believed this is supposedly a 3 team trade with lakers getting westbrook + hield (can’t be announced yet due to schroeder s&t), which would make it a bit more palatable.

not a fan of the westbrook fit. the only saving grace is having someone to offload ballhandling/playmaking from bron and run the team while he is on the bench. although 40+ million for that is extreme…

Hield helps it a bit, but if the predominant take was that it would take Kuzma, Harrell and a pick to get him, how is Schröder going to do it?

 

[Lefty2one]

This is the third straight season Russ has been traded. Harden didn't want to play with him, Beal didn't want to play with him. LeBron and AD are going to continue that pattern.

This move has "GM LeBron" written all over it but it's a gamble they probably had to take. If Vogel is smart and staggers their rotations so Russ is primarily leading the second unit and doing his thing on his own then this could work out. The three stars on the court together to close out games will be interesting though.

 

[tzznandrew]

This is the third straight season Russ has been traded. Harden didn't want to play with him, Beal didn't want to play with him. LeBron and AD are going to continue that pattern.

This move has "GM LeBron" written all over it but it's a gamble they probably had to take. If Vogel is smart and staggers their rotations so Russ is primarily leading the second unit and doing his thing on his own then this could work out. The three stars on the court together to close out games will be interesting though.

He's the only MVP to be traded three straight offseasons.

There's a reason for that.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Hield helps it a bit, but if the predominant take was that it would take Kuzma, Harrell and a pick to get him, how is Schröder going to do it?

caveat again that this all from reddit (so take it as you will).

trade would be the following:

• lakers get: russ, hield
• wizards get: schröder (s&t), kcp, lakers 1st
• kings get: kuzma, harrell

 

[huskyfan224]

It’s an intensely stupid take.

“LeQueen,” is this mau’s burner account? Which one of the Oakley guys are you, the grey goatee or the brown?

So triggered haha

 

[Horatio]

LeQueen just can’t do it all by himself! How many top picks has he played with now?! Ha

Who actually did it all by themselves???

 

[How Sway?!]

Westbrook helps remove the playmaking burden for Lebron. He has also shown an ability to elevate the play of a Co-Star. LA need to fill out the roster with 3 and D wings and they immediately become odds on favorites for next season.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Westbrook helps remove the playmaking burden for Lebron. He has also shown an ability to elevate the play of a Co-Star. LA need to fill out the roster with 3 and D wings and they immediately become odds on favorites for next season.

i would still take Brooklyn (if healthy), although would be a really interesting matchup stylistically.

how does LA defend BKN on the perimeter (loss of KCP hurts there).

how does BKN defend LA in the post. presumably they pack it in. so will really hinge on who LA can get for shooters.

if the trade i posted above it real, then remaining LA needs are:

• 3&D wings
• starting C (let Davis play the 4 during the year to stay healthy, move to the 5 in playoffs)

 

[the Q]

if internet rumors are to be believed this is supposedly a 3 team trade with lakers getting westbrook + hield (can’t be announced yet due to schroeder s&t), which would make it a bit more palatable.

not a fan of the westbrook fit. the only saving grace is having someone to offload ballhandling/playmaking from bron and run the team while he is on the bench. although 40+ million for that is extreme…

Add a 4th Team then because the kings have zero use for Schroeder

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Add a 4th Team then because the kings have zero use for Schroeder

read my next post

 

[superjohn]

Who actually did it all by themselves???

Nobody does it all by themselves but there's something really cool and impressive about doing it with your own team and not needing to field a team of stars as opposed to jumping around and needing other stars. Dirk comes to mind and also Giannis. Middleton is a really good player but I don't consider him a star and they came up together through all the hard times to win. Giannis could've bounced to a more glamorous city and teamed up with Doncic or Lebron but he stuck it out in Milwaukee and did it.

 

[the Q]

caveat again that this all from reddit (so take it as you will).

trade would be the following:

• lakers get: russ, hield
• wizards get: schröder (s&t), kcp, lakers 1st
• kings get: kuzma, harrell

Unless he’s taking a one year deal why would wash take Schroeder? They have a legit shot at Max cep space if they Judy take expiring deals over kuz

 

[nelsonmuntz]

caveat again that this all from reddit (so take it as you will).

trade would be the following:

• lakers get: russ, hield
• wizards get: schröder (s&t), kcp, lakers 1st
• kings get: kuzma, harrell

This sounds like the trade proposals I would hear when I used to listen to WFAN in New York. I imagine that today these calls go something like:

"Louie from Queens. Long time, first time. Why don't the Knicks trade Kevin Knox for the Greek Freak and Middleton? Don't you think the Knicks could use The Freak and Middleton? We have the best Greek restaurants in New York. Why don't the Knicks make that deal?"

And that trade proposal would get discussed for about 10 minutes.

 

[444JR]

caveat again that this all from reddit (so take it as you will).

trade would be the following:

• lakers get: russ, hield
• wizards get: schröder (s&t), kcp, lakers 1st
• kings get: kuzma, harrell

You mind posting a link to the reddit thread? I haven't gotten the prospect of this trade out of my head since I read your post but I'm not seeing any whispers of the deal elsewhere. Would obviously be an incredible deal for the Lakers

 

[bendm]

• lakers get: russ, hield
• wizards get: schröder (s&t), kcp, lakers 1st
• kings get: kuzma, harrell

schroder, kcp and what will surely be a late first for westbrook? the kings got a better haul for hield. what are wizards doing?!

 

[kobebeanbryant]

You mind posting a link to the reddit thread? I haven't gotten the prospect of this trade out of my head since I read your post but I'm not seeing any whispers of the deal elsewhere. Would obviously be an incredible deal for the Lakers

not saying any of this is reputable at all, but here you go.

one of the reddit threads i could find again (has some pepe silvia vibes):


mentioned briefly here too:

Where the Lakers stand after acquiring Russell Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly agreed on a deal to acquire Russell Westbrook for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and the 21st overall pick in the 2021 draft. This tr

hoopshype.com

 

[kobebeanbryant]

while we’re doing baseless internet rumors, Rudy would be a good fit for lakers on a vet min.

 

[Edward Sargent]

LeQueen just can’t do it all by himself! How many top picks has he played with now?! Ha

Nobody can do it by themselves, that's why its a team sport. MJ couldn't Kobe couldn't Wilt didn't Oscar didn't, Shaq didn't. I can go on.

 

[Horatio]

Nobody does it all by themselves but there's something really cool and impressive about doing it with your own team and not needing to field a team of stars as opposed to jumping around and needing other stars. Dirk comes to mind and also Giannis. Middleton is a really good player but I don't consider him a star and they came up together through all the hard times to win. Giannis could've bounced to a more glamorous city and teamed up with Doncic or Lebron but he stuck it out in Milwaukee and did it.

I agree but a lot had to happen for Giannis to win. Plus, Holiday and Middleton are good “Help” but they’re gonna need to add more “ Help “ next season in order to repeat. Those other teams are better when healthy and are making moves to improve. That means that he may need a player that’s better than Holiday and Middleton if possible.

 

[the Q]

I agree but a lot had to happen for Giannis to win. Plus, Holiday and Middleton are good “Help” but they’re gonna need to add more “ Help “ next season in order to repeat. Those other teams are better when healthy and are making moves to improve. That means that he may need a player that’s better than Holiday and Middleton if possible.

the fact that they ended up a tax paying team this year is going to make their run that much harder. They’re gonna need to shed salary over the next 2 years or really get pounded by the tax

 

[Kemba15]

Nobody does it all by themselves but there's something really cool and impressive about doing it with your own team and not needing to field a team of stars as opposed to jumping around and needing other stars. Dirk comes to mind and also Giannis. Middleton is a really good player but I don't consider him a star and they came up together through all the hard times to win. Giannis could've bounced to a more glamorous city and teamed up with Doncic or Lebron but he stuck it out in Milwaukee and did it.

But to the point of Lebron, he probably would have stayed with Cleveland 12+ years if he wasn’t drafted into one of the worst front offices in the history of the league.

The starting lineup for the last game Lebron played with Cleveland in 2010 was him, Antwan Jamison, Anthony Parker, Mo Williams and Shaq (the year before he retired). Big Z averaged 7 points a game that year. Imagine trotting the current day version of that lineup out in the 2021 postseason?

Everyone focuses on the jump to Miami and I get it, but if the Cavs franchise just had an average front office Lebron’s career would have looked a lot different.

Put another way—MJ wasn’t staying on the Bulls if his ‘91 roster was that load of crap.