The Los Angeles Lakers could trade for Russell Westbrook in a three-way blockbuster deal involving the OKC Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers' future is looking bright with their young talents in D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr showing full potential in the summer league. They also have Jordan Clarkson, whom LA signed to a four-year $50 million, and Julius Randle, who has been working out a lot this summer to improve his game.
The arrival of Luke Walton to the LA brass should be a difference-maker, but if the Lakers truly wants to be a winning team this season, trading for a proven star is their best option.
Among the most notable names in the trade market is Russell Westbrook, who has been in the heat of trade talks following Kevin Durant's decision to spurn the Thunder over the Golden State Warriors. Many believe the Lakers are the logical destination for Westbrook, considering his background growing up and playing college basketball in Los Angeles. But ESPN's Zach Lowe thinks the Lakers should wait until the summer of 2017 before pouncing at the star point guard.
"In theory, the Lakers should simply wait for Westbrook to hit free agency, stink badly enough to keep their pick yet again and sign him without dealing away any assets - the road not taken with the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony," Lowe wrote in the aftermath of Kevin Durant's exit from Oklahoma City," Lowe wrote.
This may seem a logical option for the Lakers, who are optimistic about the lineup they have right now, especially to their young talents. But CBS Sports' Matt Moore has an interesting take on why the Lakers should trade for Westbrook now than attempt to sign him in free agency.
"Whoever trades for him retains his bird rights to re-sign him to a five-year deal for more money, plus players aren't going to want to leave twice in a year," Moore noted.
"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."
It remains to be seen whether the Lakers truly have an interest to trade for Westbrook now, especially involving their young talents, who have the potential to thrive in Walton's system. But if they do, one possible trade scenario the Lakers may consider is orchestrating a three-way deal with the Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves, as explored by Sai Mohan of Hoops Habit.
In Mohan's trade scenario, the Lakers would send D'Angelo Russell, Lou Williams and Jose Calderon to the Thunder and Julius Randle to the Timberwolves. LA gets Westbrook, while the Thunder also receive Shabazz Muhammad from Minnesota.
This deal would still give the Lakers a handful of youngsters in Jordan Clarkson and Brandon Ingram, whom they could use to build around Westbrook. The Thunder, on the other hand, get pieces essential for their rebuild, with Russell and Muhammad potentially filling for the void left by Durant and Westbrook.
Meanwhile, the Wolves get to reunite Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns, forming a formidable frontcourt that could the rest of the team's roster.
The most evident caveat on trading for Westbrook is losing Russell, who could be the face of the Lakers' franchise in the foreseeable future. But it is also hard to pass on a talented star like Westbrook, especially if the Lakers could convince him to stay for many years.