The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make any trades before the deadline arrived, but reports have since emerged about possible deals that didn’t come to fruition.
One such deal involved Russell Westbrook going to the Houston Rockets for John Wall. But the Lakers did not want to attach their 2027 first-round pick to make it happen because Wall has not played all season and saving the pick could help in the summer.
Now another deal that didn’t happen has been reported. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Lakers discussed a trade with the Sacramento Kings involving Westbrook and Buddy Hield:
But more specifically, sources say one such scenario involved Sacramento and — wait for it — a deal in which then-Kings guard Buddy Hield would be sent to the Lakers. Yes, that’s the same Buddy Hield who came so close to being traded to the Lakers in the summer before they prioritized the Westbrook trade with Washington and left the Kings fuming.
The Lakers tried to trade for Hield over the summer, but when Westbrook wanted out of Washington, L.A. quickly shifted and turned all attention to the 2017 former MVP.
Hield, who is on a declining salary contract, is making $22 million this season, so more players would’ve come to L.A. to match Westbrook’s $44 million deal.
But the Kings struck a deal with the Indiana Pacers to acquire two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, so Hield went to the Eastern Conference instead.
