Lakers Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and More
As the 2023 NBA trade deadline approaches, few teams will command as much attention as the Los Angeles Lakers.
The famed franchise is looking for ways to capitalize on the championship window with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, the Lakers are finding themselves on the wrong side of discussions right now.
Most recently, they fell short in its pursuit of Kyrie Irving. The ongoing Russell Westbrook rumors are painting a bleak picture, and one of their top pivot options is unlikely to trade a key contributor. There's a real chance Los Angeles doesn't land a splashy addition.
The current news is unfavorable to the Lakers—even as the narrative can rapidly change if there's a breakthrough in trade talks.
The Kyrie Irving Saga
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In the aftermath of the Brooklyn Nets sending Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, several rumors have focused on the Lakers.
NBA reporter Marc Stein said Nets owner Joe Tsai wanted to avoid moving the 30-year-old to the Lakers. They passed up a package of Westbrook and two unprotected first-round picks, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Yet the franchise had reservations about Irving's "professional and availability," per Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register.
As always, the complete truth is most likely a mix of everything.
Remember that any source has an inherent, understandable bias of protecting the team. After missing out on a high-value target, the Lakers certainly want to minimize the perceived impact to their brand.
Los Angeles probably had concerns about Irving, mostly because how could they not? He's forced trades at multiple stops and made headlines for several frustrating reasons in recent years. Yet he's still a tremendous talent worth a top offer. And, you know what, maybe Tsai really doesn't want the Lakers to win. All of that can be simultaneously true.
But none of it brings the eight-time All-Star to Los Angeles.
Picks Needed to Deal Westbrook
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Perhaps the most persistent rumor of the 2022-23 NBA season is that the Lakers are willing to trade Westbrook.
Clearly, though, it's not so simple.
As the Lakers' sixth man, he's averaged 15.7 points while shooting just 41.4 percent, including a 28.6 three-point clip. He has also provided 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game, but that production is far below the expectation of a $47.1 million player.
Because of that, according to Goon, a trade involving the 34-year-old will likely require the Lakers to send an unprotected first-round pick—and maybe more—to the acquiring team.
If L.A. is truly desperate to chase a championship this season, it'll attach a couple of picks to trade Westbrook. Given that the Lakers hold a 25-29 record, pursuing a title seems ill-fated at best.
The wisest long-term decision—keeping Westbrook until his contract expires this offseason—is not a glamorous one, though.
LaVine Likely Not Leaving Bulls
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According to Buha, the Lakers have an early list of five potential trade partners to watch: the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz.
But don't expect the Bulls to swing a deal.
ESPN's Jamal Collier noted that while Los Angeles is eyeing Chicago's Zach LaVine, the Bulls have showed "little interest" in trading him.
LaVine, who turns 28 in March, is averaging 23-plus points for the fifth straight year—albeit at a less efficient mark than the last two seasons.
Instead, the Lakers will be shifting their focus.
Toronto guards Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. or Utah guards Mike Conley and Malik Beasley could be the featured returns. Other possibilities for the Lakers are packages led by Charlotte guard Terry Rozier and San Antonio guard Josh Richardson.
In any situation, though, a trade will likely require moving future draft picks. That's the cost of business for Los Angeles this year.
