Who Should the Lakers Target amid Latest Russell Westbrook Trade Rumors?
The Los Angeles Lakers still await their first win of the 2022-23 NBA season, but they aren't reaching for the panic button yet.
They are, however, taking note of its location with an understanding that it may require pressing sooner than later.
The Lakers "appear determined to give the current roster a proper sample size of 20-to-25 games" before doing anything dramatic, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
A Russell Westbrook deal remains a possibility. Charania noted L.A.'s previous talks with the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield before adding the Lakers hold Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier 'in high regard" and have had "preliminary discussions" with the San Antonio Spurs about wing Josh Richardson.
There are other alternatives out there—the Utah Jazz remain in the mix, per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor—but if it boils down to the aforementioned trio, which trade package should the Lakers try to land?
The Candidates
Every player on the Lakers' radar can shoot—as they should. This roster is maddeningly short on shooters, leaving L.A. looking up at everyone in three-point makes (8.3 per game) and three-point percentage (21.2).
This can't happen. Forget about the three-ball's importance in the modern game, it's an essential for winning big with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They need spacers who can keep defenses honest or punish them when left alone. The Lakers don't have nearly enough of them right now.
Indy has the best shooter of the bunch in Buddy Hield, who's been a career source of 3.0 threes on 39.7 percent shooting. Myles Turner has impressive touch, too, for a 6'11", two-time blocks champ. Since 2019-20, he's been a nightly supplier of 1.4 threes on 33.8 percent shooting.
The packages from Charlotte and San Antonio are trickier to analyze, since additional salaries would have to join the swaps. As for the named targets, though, both Rozier and Richardson are at least above-average from distance. Rozier, who might be the most skilled scorer of the bunch, has averaged two triples on 37.6 percent shooting for his career. Richardson, the top perimeter defender discussed, has averaged 1.6 makes on 41.9 percent shooting since the start of last season.
Is a Westbrook Trade Really Necessary?
In a word—abso-freakin'-lutely.
As O'Connor put it, "Westbrook isn't the only problem, but he's by far their biggest and most glaring one." Adding insult to...well, insult, Westbrook also happens to be the team's highest-paid player with a whopping $47.1 million headed his way this season, per Spotrac.
Westbrook leaves the Lakers unbalanced. His lack of a shooting threat spoils the offensive spacing. His ball-dominance takes possessions away from James and Davis. Westbrook is showing decent fight on defense, but that's never been his best end.
No matter what type of scheming Lakers skipper Darvin Ham comes up with, the square peg will never fit the round hole. The longer L.A. refuses to accept that, the harder it will be to salvage anything from this season.
So, What Move Should the Lakers Make?
If the Lakers broker any of these Westbrook blockbusters, they'll emerge from them in better shape. So, before selecting the best option, let's just note that any realistic option is preferable to standing pat.
That said, it's hard not to like what Indy can offer.
Hield is an elite marksman. Turner is a true defensive anchor who can save Davis from playing center and do that without spoiling the offensive spacing. Some might gripe about giving up two future first-round picks for role players, but it's a path out of this predicament. Besides, it might take one pick just to incentivize a team to take back Westbrook's salary, so in that sense, it's almost flipping a single first for a pair of plug-and-play starters.
Trading Hield and Turner wouldn't move the Lakers atop the West, but it would greatly enhance their playoff chances. And if L.A. simply sneaks in the field, it will always have a puncher's chance in a series with James and Davis on the roster, provided they're surrounded by the proper support.
The Spurs' package would grow more interesting when additional names—like Doug McDermott and maybe Jakob Poeltl—join the fold. The Hornets could give the Lakers plenty to think about if they paired Rozier with Kelly Oubre Jr.
Still, the Pacers' package looks best. In fact, it's such a snug fit on paper that it's borderline shocking no deal has gone down yet.