Are Lakers Right to Keep Russell Westbrook amid Latest NBA Trade Rumors?
For months, Russell Westbrook has been featured in trade rumors. It has seemed a certainty that the 34-year-old point guard will be on the move prior to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9.
As that date gets closer, the most probable landing spot for Westbrook appears to be ... to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers?
That's right. According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Lakers may opt to keep Westbrook, who has been performing much better since his early-season struggles. He's thrived while serving as Los Angeles' sixth man, which may not be how the team envisioned using him, but it's worked out thus far.
"According to a source with knowledge of the Lakers' plans, Westbrook's play this past month has made it increasingly unlikely that he will be traded before the league's Feb. 9 deadline," Amick wrote.
Westbrook is averaging 14.7 points, 7.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 27 games, only three of which he has started (and none since Oct. 23). He's recorded a triple-double twice over Los Angeles' past four games, including in its win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
The Lakers still need to find a way to get going, as they had lost four of five games prior to that victory over Denver, which improved their record to a mere 12-16. Los Angeles will likely need to make at least one trade if it hopes to make a push into the playoffs.
Is it the right move to keep Westbrook as part of the core, or should the Lakers be shopping him as a piece in one of their probable potential moves?
Westbrook doesn't seem to be a long-term fit in Los Angeles, and even if he doesn't get dealt, it's unlikely he'll be back next season. After making $47.06 million in the 2022-23 campaign, Westbrook is set to become an unrestricted free agent during the upcoming summer.
But the Lakers don't have much draft capital to part with, considering they have only two first-round picks the rest of the decade. It's unlikely a team would take on Westbrook's salary without acquiring one (if not both) of those selections.
Los Angeles may be better off making a trade in which it adds complementary players to its core trio (Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis) and possibly doesn't have to give up its most significant draft capital. Is such a trade available? That isn't known, but it's worth the team pursuing.
It would also be smart for the Lakers to remain open to the possibility of a Westbrook trade, depending on the offers they may receive. Perhaps his improved play has boosted his value and could impact the type of return Los Angeles could get for him.
Unless that happens, the Lakers will probably be right to keep Westbrook and try to make a playoff push by making a different trade and hoping they can get rolling. If Westbrook continues to play well, he could serve a key role in helping Los Angeles reach the postseason.
