The Los Angeles Lakers may no longer consider trading for Russell Westbrook, but rather take the risk of D'Angelo Russell's "sudden development" to becoming a perennial All-Star in the league.
The Lakers have been rumored to be a potential destination for Westbrook if the OKC Thunder decide on trading their star point guard. But the Lakers have many reasons not to engage in any deal for Westbrook, including the development of Russell, who would likely be part of a potential trade.
After seemingly lost in Byron Scott's system last season, Russell appears to have found his niche with the Lakers following a remarkable display of his potential in the NBA summer league. Luke Walton's playbook has given Russell the chance to play freely, and unexpectedly made "the move to acquire Westbrook slowed down just as Russell's progress has quickened," according to Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times.
"Why give up Russell and other young Lakers talent - Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle or Brandon Ingram - for a player who can just sign here after he becomes a free agent next summer? Yes, the Lakers are risking the possibility that Westbrook gets traded to some place like Boston, becomes happy and stays there," Plaschke wrote.
There is no denying the proven talent Westbrook is as he can be a game-changer on the court in several ways. With a career average of 21.5 points, 7.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game, Westbrook would speed up LA's attempt to become a winning team.
However, there is a growing sense the Lakers could just wait for Westbrook to hit the summer of 2017 before pouncing at the opportunity to acquire the All-Star point guard.
Westbrook is set to enter the final year of his five-year $78.5 million contract with the Thunder, which means there is a chance teams trading for him would only get his services for a single season.
Moreover, it seems whatever the outcome of Westbrook's trade drama is, the Lakers are still poised to sign him next year, according to Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript.
"There are teams who are convinced [Westbrook is] likely heading to Los Angeles after the final buzzer of the 2017 season," Katz wrote.
However, Matt Moore of CBS Sports believes trading for Westbrook now would likely keep him in Los Angeles in the long run.
According to Moore, whichever team trades for Westbrook would likely keep him for another five-year pact, mainly because any of the teams interested in Westbrook would retain his bird-rights to re-sign him for more money.
"Plus, it's much easier to sell Westbrook on the perks of living in L.A. and being a part of the Lakers when he's already there than it is to sell him on it as a free agent. That's why LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and everyone else who has been a marquee free agent over the last two years has turned them down," Moore added.
It remains to be seen whether the Lakers would truly consider trading for Westbrook this offseason. Russell isn't going to be a Westbrook-type of player, but his development along with other LA's young talents could be far too valuable than bringing Westbrook to Tinsel town this year.