The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t succeeded in getting rid of Russell Westbrook – at least not yet.
They’ve been trying to send him to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving, but the two teams haven’t been able to come to an agreement.
The market for Westbrook seems very bleak overall, but there could be a team out there that could be willing to take him off the Lakers’ hands.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that team could be the New York Knicks.
Via Marc Stein substack:
“We’ve been writing on this Substack for months that the Lakers do not want to attach future first-round picks to a Russell Westbrook trade just to facilitate Westbrook’s departure … but also that the Lakers are wary of taking back long-term salary that hampers future flexibility. Yet one league source advised me in Las Vegas to keep an eye on the Knicks and Lakers discussing a potential Westbrook deal if — IF — Leon Rose can successfully bring Donovan Mitchell to Madison Square Garden. The source’s thinking: After adding Mitchell, New York would be expected to explore scenarios to trade away Julius Randle. And Randle, just one season removed from his breakthrough to All-Star and All-NBA status, is presumably the sort of player that the Lakers would have to consider taking on if — IF — they are unable to use Westbrook’s $47.1 million expiring contract in a trade for Kyrie Irving. Randle, 27, is entering Year 1 of a four-year deal with the Knicks worth $117 million ($106 million guaranteed) and, of course, played his first four NBA seasons with the Lakers.”
It’s hard to imagine the Lakers being willing to take back Randle, as his skill sets are largely redundant with those of LeBron James. In addition, Randle would likely have to come off the bench in L.A., which would seem like too much of a demotion for him, especially considering his large contract.
