Lakers Weighing Up Trade Options Involving Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn

The Los Angeles Lakers are contemplating three totally different commerce choices with the upcoming December 15 commerce date looming, per The Athletic. Let’s check out all of them.

OPTION 1

Option one is to commerce Russell Westbrook, plus a decide or two, for a star or a number of gamers.

The level guard is averaging 15 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per sport.

He has been a significantly better match in comparison with final season because it appears he has embraced his new function coming off the bench.

The 34-year-old has turn out to be a much more selfless participant in latest video games and head coach Darvin Ham mentioned his vitality helps his teammates. “I mean, it just motivates the guys,” Ham mentioned.

“The guys love to see Russ do well, you know, he’s a beloved teammate.”

The 2017 NBA MVP mentioned just lately he’s simply attempting to take pleasure in taking part in.

“Just hooping,” Westbrook mentioned. “That’s it. That’s all. Each and every night just try to have fun, embrace and enjoy the game.”

OPTION TWO

Option two is to bundle Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and picks (one first-round and/or a number of second-round picks) for function gamers who can improve the roster.

The Lakers acquired Utah Jazz guard Beverley in a commerce in August in alternate for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and ahead Stanley Johnson. In August 2021, Nunn signed a two-year, $10 million contract.

Beverly takes up $13 million {dollars} whereas Nunn takes up simply $5.3 million of wage this yr and though these aren’t enormous contracts, if packaged collectively the Lakers may nab a participant or a number of gamers within the $20 million greenback vary.

The pair actually haven’t been performing to their full potential. Despite taking part in 20 plus minutes, Beverly is simply averaging 4.2 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per sport. While Nunn is recording 5.8 factors, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

The final time 34-year-old Beverly ranked inside the highest 100 in per-game manufacturing was 2016-17 (not counting the 11 video games he performed in 2017-18), the place he averaged 9.5 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals for Houston.

The proven fact that LAL are determined for extra measurement on the wing and for an enormous man to go with Anthony Davis, in addition to their abundance of small guards, implies that Nunn and Beverly are commerce choices that is sensible.

OPTION THREE

Option three can be two separate offers of Westbrook with one first-round decide and a second deal utilizing Beverley and Nunn.

The Lakers are leaning towards choice two or three at this level, reportedly.

“That would entail making a smaller move to marginally upgrade the roster while retaining the possibility of following up with a larger Westbrook deal later in the season,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported.

The Lakers weren’t in a position to make the playoffs final season, ​​ending eleventh within the Western Conference with a 33-49 document.

They have been unable to do a lot season both, as a result of LeBron James ($44.5 million), Davis ($38 million) and Westbrook ($47.1 million) are taking over a lot of the cap.

The Lakers have received six of their final eight however nonetheless sit thirteenth within the Western Conference as they’ve misplaced 12 video games. Their upcoming schedule will probably be a troublesome take a look at as they face the Bucks, Wizards, Cavs, Raptors and 76ers, with three of these being high 5 groups within the East.