Should Lakers Use Draft Picks to Move Russell Westbrook amid NBA Trade Rumors?

If the Los Angeles Lakers had reached the playoffs and been an NBA title contender during the 2021-22 campaign (as was expected entering the season), then Russell Westbrook likely wouldn't be featured in trade rumors this summer. But that isn't what happened.

During Westbrook's first season with the Lakers, the team greatly underperformed. They ended up in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 2019.

Now, uncertainty surrounds Los Angeles' roster. For much of the offseason to this point, there's been buzz about a potential trade that could send Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Lakers. In doing so, Westbrook's tenure in Los Angeles would have to be over after one year.

Nothing has happened yet, and perhaps nothing will. Maybe Westbrook will be back wearing purple and gold when the 2022-23 season begins. But the rumors are going to continue to circulate in the meantime.

Such as this one: If Los Angeles was to move Westbrook, it doesn't want to have to give up multiple first-round draft picks in order to do so, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. The way things are likely to be constructed in a potential Irving-Westbrook trade, the Lakers may have to do that, though.

"In the speculated blockbuster trade of Westbrook and Irving, the Nets would likely want a first-round pick to move Irving and take on Westbrook. The Nets would likely want an additional first-rounder to entice another team like the Spurs or Pacers to take Westbrook as the third team in a deal," Scotto wrote.

So, that poses a question. Should Los Angeles be willing to give up two (or more) first-round picks so it can move on from Westbrook and his $47.06 million salary for the upcoming season?

The trio of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn't quite jell the way many thought it would last season. It didn't help that the Lakers dealt with numerous injuries (including to both James and Davis) that may have negatively impacted the team's chemistry on the court.

Westbrook may have averaged 18.5 points per game (his fewest since the 2009-10 season), but he still shot 44.4 percent from the field in 78 contests. His 3.8 turnovers per game were also his fewest since the 2013-14 season.

Although Westbrook didn't grab as many rebounds or dish out as many assists as he typically does, his numbers weren't as bad as some may have thought they were.

There's reason to believe the 33-year-old point guard is in store for a bounce-back performance during the upcoming season. And that's what the Lakers have hoped for publicly. New head coach Darvin Ham believes Westbrook has wrongfully been "counted out."

"I got a wholehearted plan, a clear plan on how I’m going to use him," Ham recently told Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "I showed it to him, sat down, brought stuff up for him. I think he’s going to flourish. We ain’t going to try to curtail his energy. We’re just going to diversify it, redirect it."

That could lead to a much improved showing from Westbrook, and maybe he could help lead the Lakers to the type of success they expected to have last season in the process. It may not be a bad idea to give their superstar trio a second opportunity, rather than subbing in Irving for Westbrook, especially if they can surround that group with some better outside shooters.

Because of that, Los Angeles is making the right choice in not parting with a ton of draft capital just to get Westbrook off its roster. He has the potential to have a better season than Irving, so the Lakers may want to stick it out and keep making complementary moves to maximize what they get from their core.