The Lakers spoke to the Jazz and Knicks a few weeks ago about a hypothetical three-team trade scenario that would see Donovan Mitchell land in New York, with Russell Westbrook going to Utah, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
As Scotto explains, the proposed deal would involve at least two Jazz players (likely some combination of Bojan Bogdanovic, Patrick Beverley, Jordan Clarkson, and Malik Beasley) going to Los Angeles, while the Knicks would send out players to both teams for salary-matching purposes. New York would need to trade at least $24.2MM in outgoing salary to match Mitchell’s $30.35MM cap hit.
The Jazz – who would buy out Westbrook if they acquired him, according to Scotto – would receive significant draft compensation from both the Lakers and Knicks for trading Mitchell and taking on Westbrook’s $47MM+ salary.
According to Scotto, the Lakers have had interest in Knicks forward Cam Reddish in the past. Additionally, New York previously expressed interest in Beasley and now employs Gersson Rosas, who acquired and re-signed Beasley when he was working in the Timberwolves’ front office. So if the three teams were able to work out a deal, it would be worth keeping an eye on whether the Lakers could land Reddish or the Knicks could get Beasley.
However, it sounds like it’s probably a long shot that the Jazz, Lakers, and Knicks will be able to reach an agreement.
Utah, of course, wants a substantial haul for Mitchell, having reportedly asked the Knicks for three players and six draft picks last month. And teams that have talked to Los Angeles about Westbrook are believed to be seeking the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks (with as little protection as possible) to accommodate the salary dump. According to multiple reports, L.A. has thus far resisted attaching more than one first-rounder to Westbrook in any proposed trade.
For the Lakers, Jazz, and Knicks to make a deal, they’d have to find common ground on the price tags for both Mitchell and Westbrook, which will be extremely challenging.
It’s unclear, based on Scotto’s report, whether or not the three clubs are still actively exploring this scenario or how viable they consider it to be.
I had a dream Westbrook got traded to the Bucks for Semi Ojeleye (I don’t think he plays for them anymore)
Print it up bro, it is as realistic as most of the hypothetical trades on here.
Every day, an NBA writer finds a different way to write a Lakers are trying to make a trade story that absolutely has no shot whatsoever at happening. They carefully include a sentence that says “it likely won’t happen” after writing 10 paragraphs about all the different ways that if “could” happen.
In their defense it is their job to write stories about the NBA. Like them or not, teams like the Lakers and Knicks are newsworthy or worth the click bait even if it’s a hypothetical article.
Its only getting worse. Now there is these trade proposals saying LeBron to warriors for half of their team. It is getting more annoying. Just like this trade is probably just a made up trade offer. First thing is why would Utah do that? There is 0 reason for them to trade for Westbrook since Mitchel can get them back a bigger package of good young players.
Utah makes as much sense as any team, and maybe the MOST sense.
Where the Jazz are heading after the exit of Snyder, landing a monster haul for Gobert, a first for Royce, and a future monster haul for Mitchell, they could really turn this thing into near-guaranteed success in getting more draft capital just for taking on one year of Westbrook.
I’d do it even for just one of the two Lakers unprotected firsts. They’re not going to contend this upcoming season anyways.
The earliest 1st the Lakers can trade is 27. It’s impossible to predict where that will fall 5 years from now.
It could be a pick in the 20s but it could also be a top 10 pick. I’d say it’s more likely on the later side but I’d still do it in their situation.
NOP would be the real winners of that trade if Utah buys out Russ & they’re able to sign him cheap. Adding Russ & Zion to the playoff team they had last yr led by BI/CJ/JoVal would spell hell for their opps out West
If Russell Westbrook was capable of being a valuable contributor to a playoff contending team ….. the Lakers would not have been actively pursuing ways to not have him on the roster.
Ask Washington if he can lead a team to the playoff. Lebron and AD don’t want to change their games. It is all a former MVP’s fault. Right!!
I think Westbrook has plenty of good playing time left. But with all the bad press, a GM is putting his job on the line if he trades for Westbrook and he bombs. Whenever I see a story that some team wants Westbrook, I think…BS.
You must just started watching nba last yr lol. This guy has had numerous huge playoff moments/games/series. Don’t let your irrational hate of the guy cloud your ability to see that he’s clearly 1 of the best guards in the history of the game. How many ppl u know capable of a postseason performance like this? Basically ended Dirks career with this performance… link to youtube.com
RW is a bad fit for the Lakers, that’s a fact.
He is no longer that player and he would not be a good fit alongside Zion. RW was horrible finishing near the rim this past season and his defense is godawful. Stop speaking of RW like we were in 2014/5.
Man a psychologist would have a field day unpacking why you hate Russ so much
Russ is about to AI outta the league, no young team is taking him in, New Orleans has 4 players who need the ball in their hands already, Brooklyn trading KD and Kyrie and then letting Russ carry them to the playoffs is his best hope
Lol u are wishing so hard for him to fail. Have u always been like this?
He was always a subpar defender, even in his prime while he “tried” on that end. Right now he is a bad defensive player and an inefficient scorer. Those are facts, supported by metrics and eye test, that is not hate, that’s called reality.
Lol man you are seriously delusional. Just step back for a second, clear your mind & be honest with yourself. Just try to think of possible reasons why you hate this guy (& guys like him) so much. If you’re able to be truly honest with yourself it shouldn’t take long to realize what the real issue is. It will take levels if humility that I’m not sure you’ll be able to reach but I promise that type of progress will be healthy for u (as well as ur alt accounts)
Westbrook’s PER rank was 90 out of 177 qualifiers which is slightly in the bottom half. His PER of 15 last year was the lowest of his career and half of what it was in 2016-17 (his highest PER of 30.6). He is not aging as well as LBJ.
@Sankara Westbrook is one of the most overrated players in the history of the NBA. He padded his stats as much as any player in history and NEVER won a damn thing. His time in Washington was a stat-stuffing joke! His time with the Lakers was a joke! What did OKC win during Westbrook’s MVP season???? That’s right. Nothing! I watched Patrick Beverley shut him down by himself! What did Houston win with Westbrook???? That’s right. Nothing!!
Quit judging greatness on cherry-picked stats! One of the most selfish players to ever grace the NBA. That says a lot!
Never won a dam thing? Lol we gotta be talking about different guys. Russ Westbrook won a gold medal a decade ago. Did you miss that or just forget it? He was clearly a huge reason OKC won the west the following yr. Lol I guess Wilt & MJ padded their stats too lol anybody with great stats is a stat padder right? Smh u call him the most selfish player in nba history lol I mean that’s clearly idiocy. KD led the league in scoring like 5 straight yrs wuth Russ as his pg. Beal had the best scoring yr of his career playing next to Russ. Ibaka, KLove & Harden all got plenty of touches/shots/pts playing with Russ. But don’t even focus on his historically great stats or the fact that he’s easily 1 if the most exciting and players in the history of the game. The boy steps up & plays his best when it counts the most. This is him ending Kobe same way he ended Dirk… link to m.youtube.com
Westbrook is (was) a beast. A great individual player who nevertheless cannot shoot, was overly worried about his stats and has always been a poor decision-maker. He is a lock to the HoF, no doubt about it, but he has never (at least since his early OKC days with Durant) made a good team better (he made several awful teams much better, to be sure, albeit not good enough), and at this point of his career I doubt he would get much more than a mid-level from any team. No chance any PO team is granting him starting PG duties. Look at the market for a similar (even though certainly not as good as RW) kind of player in Bledsoe.
@Otogar I couldn’t have said any better than this!
Love that Sankara is on here calling people delusional for criticizing Russ and uses a gold metal from a decade ago as some sort of saving grace. Then on top of that is insinuating that if you dont like Russ than you’re a racist. Class act
Westbrook had a good second half of the season for Houston when Harden decided to let him have the ball. Not Westbrook’s fault he is was injured for the playoffs. I don’t think Vogel even tried to use Russell for what he is good at. Glad he got fired. In Westbrooks chest beats the heart of a fighter. I would like to see him turn his career around right in Lakerland. So sick of all the ugliness surrounding this guy. I would rather see Westbrook have a good year somewhere and have all the bad press fall on LeBron James. Screw the Lakers as long as James in a member.
@Sankara Right now! Today! Russell Westbrook is NOT capable of being a valuable contributor on a Playoff contending team!!! This ain’t about what he WAS. It is about Right Now! Read! RIF … Reading is Fundamental!
So he was a valuable contributor to a playoff team in 2021 & every yr of his career prior to that but somehow just lost it & will never get it back? Lol that’s your view of situation? Sounds a lot more like wishful thinking. Lol I love how worked up ur getting tho haha u must be thinking about all that $ he’s getting paid this season. Bro don’t be salty lol it’s obv you been wishing for him to fall off prob since he was in OKC lol remember when yall thought he was done when he struggled initially in Houston? Then he beasted for the rest of the yr & was a huge reason they eliminated his former team in the playoffs & yall looked dumb lol remember that? This is the same thing… link to youtube.com
wow I knew Sankara was/is a troll and ATL homer, but arguing about RW this way was kinda unexpected hahaha.
Sankara, you need to know that age has a big say on players performance as they get old. LBJ is my fav player of all time and he couldn’t make the playoffs last year, im sure any younger version of LBJ would have reached playoffs easily even with AD injuries.
Stop denying reality.
On the other hand a white guy hating on Russell Westbrook this way is very expected lol. I guess it’s his brashness & the way he wears his pride on his sleeve and is unapologetic & seemingly unable to be controlled that rubs yall the wrong way. Maybe Russ should take a page from Ali & Barkleys book & find a sidekick that yall can relate to (Cosell & Ernie respectively). Maybe Russ should go get Rogan or Charlie Day or whoever the hot name at espn is rn to cosign for him & joke around with him and send a msg to the suburbs that he’s 1 of the good 1s. If it worked for those 2 it can def work for Russ. Ofc he’d have to either get Parkinsons like Ali or turn full republican like Barkley to really make it work lol so maybe it’s not worth it
WOW, you are reaching new heights of trolling bro.
Westbrook can be a contributor on a playoff team given the right role and right salary.
At 47 million and a starting point guard he’s clearly not a valuable contributor
At 10 mill or under and a 6th man bench scoring instant offense role yeah he has value in that role and could possibly thrive as a 2nd unit piece.
Would he accept that? Idk but that’d certainly be valuable to a playoff contender to have offense in the 2nd unit.
Russ would be extremely valuable to NOP in any role, especially starting pg
Westbrook has to prove he is not becoming what Carmelo became at the end of his career. Until he does, he is no longer a quality player for a team seeking a championship. Entertaining like Allen Iverson was at the end of his career but not helpful for a title chase.
You’re forgetting that everybody was wrong about the end of Melos career. Majority of ppl thought Melo was done after his 33yo season too. He has proven them all wrong & was 1 of the best 6th man forwards in the league the past few seasons. Russ literally led the league in asts & dragged his subpar team the playoffs the last time he was the main ballhandler on his team (his usual role that he’s been comfortable & extremely productive in his whole career). Guys just consider the fact that maybe Russell Westbrook is actually pretty great at basketball and that you’re just a miserable hater. Might that be what this is? You have to admit it’s a strong possibility isn’t it
@sankara You should actually be on ESPN. They love guys who take intentionally contrarian, selective opinions on things – and then double down on them when challenged – so that other talking heads can argue with them and everyone can tune in. And then of course mix in some strangely off base cultural commentary like you’re not just talking out your ass to attack someone else. You’d be perfect.
Lakers have no real quality depth on their lineup. Which is tied up in 47M owed to brick.
Westbrick is the only PG teams teams want less than Kymie.
Jazz are a joke
Another day, another horrible Mitchell to the Knicks rumor. The media wants it so much more than Knicks fans.
So that trade cant even happen for like another month due to the Gobert trade. So nothing would be imminent.
LA would undo the Westbrook trade in a sec. If they had Kuzma, KCP and the 1st round pick alone, they could easily do a deal for Kyrie or combo or players.
Pat Bev has trolled his way out of playing with Russ.
Jazz wont do that non sense trade
Seems like the Lakers think the Jazz wants to be their piggy bank.
Obviously, the Jazz should be able to grab 4 first-round draft picks just for Mitchell alone, and don’t need to give up additional players just to populate the Lakers.
I think it’ll be those 3 at least. Adding the Nets as a 4th team actually makes the most sense so that Irving can be part of the deal.
The Lakers might as well trade AD and Westbrook so they can really mix things up instead of thinking a small add is going to help.
Ainge could help the Lakers, Knicks and Nets all completely shuffle and fine tune their rosters in a manner that seems more like fantasy sports.
He could take back any unwanted players and trade off any pieces they want. He’d end up with a collection of nothing and the guaranteed top 5 pick in 2023 he wants. He could also reasonably end up with as many as 10 first round picks, 5 unprotected and 3 teams that all got good value by trading those picks.
The Knicks picked up Rosas after his debacle running the Wolves? It’s funny that once someone reaches executive level they’ll always get another chance.