Talks between the Lakers and Pacers about a trade that would include Russell Westbrook, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, and other assets are currently dead, a source tells Bob Kravitz of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kravitz adds that those discussions could reignite if the Lakers add another first-round pick to their offer, but he says they’re currently at a standstill.
Kravitz’s wording suggests L.A. is only willing to attach one of its two tradable first-rounders (2027 and 2029) to Westbrook in exchange for Hield and Turner, so it’s not surprising that the Pacers aren’t interested.
As we noted earlier this week, if the Lakers want to try to acquire just one of Hield or Turner, there are ways to construct a deal using Talen Horton-Tucker ($10.26MM) and Kendrick Nunn ($5.25MM) instead of Westbrook’s $47MM expiring deal for outgoing salary purposes. But acquiring both Pacers veterans would mean including Westbrook and would require a substantial package of draft assets.
Here are a few more trade rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, who suggested last week that Jarred Vanderbilt is drawing trade interest, said on the latest episode of his podcast that “a lot of teams” have called the Jazz about the 23-year-old forward. “I don’t know the number. I don’t really have any specific teams that I’ve heard of,” Fischer said, per HoopsHype. “But last I (heard), he was the guy who’s getting the most calls, the most incoming calls of all the (Jazz) players.”
- Given that no team is willing to meet the Nets‘ sky-high asking price for Kevin Durant, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on NBA Today on Thursday (video link) that he’s waiting for one of two things to happen: Brooklyn to lower that asking price, or Durant to be pulled off the trade market. There has been no indication that either one of those moves is imminent, Windhorst adds.
- As the Knicks pursue a possible Donovan Mitchell deal, it’s important that they consider what pieces would be left over, writes Fred Katz of The Athletic. Besides not wanting to sacrifice too many players who could play alongside Mitchell, the Knicks will also want to retain enough assets to potentially be able to trade for another star within a couple years, since Mitchell alone wouldn’t make them a title contender, Katz says.
If nunn can play next year he’s a lot of player for 5 mill so they should probably keep him and hope can play. Idk what his deal is now but would think after a year he would heal
Lakers want Hield and Turner for Westbrick. Their delusional front office at work.
If the Lakers trade Tucker and Nunn for Hield, it would cost Lakers additional $29 million
Lakers need future by keeping draft capital
Think the delusion that lies in this article is Pacers thinking they could net 2 (highly valued) first Rders
Just waive or buy Russ out and make a point
Addition by subtraction; that’s his value
They are absolutely better without him on their team
Lakers better pray AD an Lebron play injury free seasons
If they do, Lakers make the playoffs as 6 or 7 seed maybe better if Bron doesn’t regress
Dump Russ..free him
Coach Ham make it clear that Westbrook want to sacrifice
Why Westbrook opt in $47 million contract
Did anyone understand?
No one understands you pal.
Hahaha
Lmao
Darvin Ham thinks he can bring out the OKC Russ. Russ opted in because he knows it’ll be his last big paycheck.
If Russ had a problem last year with the coach and having tantrum for being called out about bad defense what does Ham think will change? LeBron needs to tell Westbrook shut up and listen because nobody is more a leader on the team than LeBron.
The best back up plan if the Lakers are unable to trade Russ before the season starts is to sign Schroder to a minimum deal and give Russ the “John Wall” treatment.
The Lakers are better with Schroder than with Russ since Schroder competes on defense and is a good mid range shooter.
I like Schroeder as well but with only 1 spot open currently that leaves them a bit small barring no trade and a bit guard heavy (who don’t shoot particularly great or D)
It Does offer intriguing insurance if Nunn/Rw flop again tho (easily foreseeable). Dennis’s 1 on 1 quick baskets play pretty well on this team that seems destined for late shot clock prayers
There is some chatter in the streets that the Lakers are hoping for the Knicks to trade for Donovan Mitchell with Derrick Rose being part of the deal. They could either jump in as a 3rd team, or wait and have Derrick use his OG status to get bought out, and then be free to sign with Lakers for the minimum. Rose wants to be a Laker. The team would then have 3 players from Simeon High School in Chicago (THT, Nunn) in addition to Anthony Davis.
Doesn’t make much sense as that’ll lower their salary ceiling. Plus consiser what he would take as a buyout. Wall took a $5-6 cut as he made that up on his next deal. Say Westbrook takes $38-39M, that’s a huge pill to swallow for bean counting Lakers. Best bet is ride season out and trade him during the season and use that as an expiring deal. Say mid season his $47M becomes $23M so you then take on deals longer than 2023 where a team walks away or buys Westbrook out. Lakers pay half season, trade him, next team buys him out at $10M and he signs with whomever for $5-6M. I could see that all happening IF there’s a market for him, and if he improves from his toxic play from last year.
lakers just need to suck it up for the year. no need to give up anything. write off the year.
If the lakers just write off this year you can say goodbye to lebron after it as well, that’s the lakers dilemma, if they don’t attach those picks to move westbrook for players who fit next to lebron, then lebron will bounce and the lakers will be in ruins for years
No, they would have Westbrook and lebron’s salary off the books. Then they will have enough money to sign or aquire two stars to play with A.D after this season
Then they run into the problem of no depth and an over 30 AD.
I like the Lakers idea of signing 2 superstars next summer
Use LeBron and Westbrook salary to sign
LAL aren’t going to deal any 1st round pick in a RW trade, unless the player(s) they’re getting in the deal is truly worth a 1st round pick. With the 2022 offseason nearly over, RW is now (officially) an expiring contract, which is not quite off the books (yet), but will be by the 2023 offseason, when that fact is most relevant. If he’s a problem just being on the roster, then send him home or – if that’s too harsh – buy him out.
The article says they were offering 1 1st with RW. Pacers said for both Turner and Hield they needed 2. Lakers killed the talks.
I agree with HEAT MIKE – cut Westbrook or offer him a buyout better yet put him on the end of the bench and don’t bring him in – his massive ego will demand a trade or buyout
Heild and turner aren’t worth a pick each no matter if Russ is included. Lakers should just roll with Russ coming off the bench with super limited minutes if he sucks.
I tend to agree with coach ham. Westbrook plays 78 games with a cast of ever changing pieces missing the oft injured James and Davis. The over matched and undermined head coach didn’t help. Obviously the the Lakers realize their future picks will be valuable, as their future looks god awful, with a broken down and aging roster. No Westbrook is just a symptom of a organization in denial, in my opinion.
No one want Russ lol only way we trading him if we give up the first
Your firsts are going to be sure lottery picks friend. Top 3. Hang in there,one more losing year with Westbrook.
I’d like to know Kravitz’s source. Too many of you believe the drivel that comes out of these wanna be reporters mouths. Too funny
The truth can be hard to hear, sometimes. The Athletic tend to hire quality reporters. I wouldn’t just dismiss it because you don’t like it.
The article talks about Knicks title contender
This decade
Knicks have zero chance to be a title contender unless they sign a top 5 players from free agent market
Vanderbilt is only 23. The Jazz, by trading Donovan, would be rebuilding. I would think anyone under ~25 would be their primary focus. Why not keep him?
It’s also too bad they’re not able to just add another star instead of trading Donovan. They finally have a bunch of good defensive players. Suppose trading for KD isn’t a good idea at this point, right?
I keep going back and forth in my head about where to take this team. Trading Donovan for a haul does make sense. Although, keeping him and making trades for better players also makes sense.
If they do go all in on a rebuild then some of these older guys should be extended as part of their trade deals to make it easier for the team taking them.
If they decide to build around Donovan then they’ll need another go-to scorer and possibly a good isolation scoring big.
At what point do the Lakers explore trades for AD? With his injuries, you could probably improve the team with a deal for a couple of healthy mid tier players. No ideas who that could be. But I would at least explore it.
When’s the last time a team trying to win traded the best player in a deal for a couple mid tier players? {Hint; Never}
The answer to original Q- The day they get the feeling LeBron doesn’t want to continue playing on the Lakers is the day they explore AD trade ideas
Exactly. They brought in AD to pair with LeBron. They gave up their future to do it, too. Don’t see them giving up on that unless LeBron decides to leave. Only way LeBron leaves at this point is to join a team that is going to draft his son.
Reminds me of the 1970s and 1980s Dodgers. We’ll give you garbage players and some money and you give us your superstars. Deal?
I don’t think he’d agree, but if Westbrook took a demotion to second unit he’d be a leading candidate for 6MOY and would be a positive asset for any team
AD, Bron, Westbrook all play ……..
The Lakers are 11-10 in those games, but have a negative net rating of -3.6 in those minutes.Apr 4, 2022
The Los Angeles Lakers had a record of 8-18 without LeBron James this season.
Westbrook wasn’t or isn’t the only issue. Injuries and players not playing was a bigger issue.
The only way Lakers can compete for a title with a 37 yr old Bron (38 in Jan). Is by getting Kyrie. LA and the attention he craves will make him play. More important he will show up. Otherwise I trade Bron now. His all time points chase still make him valuable. He should do it as a Cavalier imo.
Love , Sexton, two #1 picks ——- gets it done
Katz from the Athletic must be a genius from this board…….. D’oh !!!!
We’re not overpaying. It’s why it’s not done yet. The Dolan days (D’oh) are over.
I’m just hoping Randle is used someway. Randle can’t be a part of this rebuild.
For all who can’t get DM leaving………
link to twitter.com
Russ and Hillbilly Kobe for Buddy Hield and a autographed Larry Bird bobble head.