The Lakers have internally discussed the possibility of packaging Russell Westbrook and draft picks in a trade offer to the Bulls for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on the latest episode of his Lowe Post podcast.
“The trade I saw (speculated by Bill Simmons of The Ringer) was Russ and both (2027 and 2029 first-round) picks – one with light protection on it, I think – for DeRozan and Vucevic,” Lowe said (hat tip to RealGM). “I can tell you 100% for sure the Lakers have had internal discussions about that very possibility, (about) if it would ever come up.”
Lowe quickly added a caveat, clarifying that the Lakers wouldn’t necessarily pull the trigger on that deal even if the Bulls were interested in it. I’ll add my own caveat: “internal” trade talks should be taken with a grain of salt, since all 30 teams will internally discuss many, many trade scenarios that will never come to fruition or even be broached to potential trade partners.
Still, as Lowe went on to explain, it makes sense for the Lakers to keep an eye on would-be playoff contenders who might struggle this season and decide to pivot to becoming sellers. The Bulls are off to a disappointing 9-13 start.
“You look around the league, like any responsible team would, and say, ‘OK, we know the Pacers option is there, the Utah option was there, the Spurs option doesn’t excite us much,'” Lowe said of the Lakers’ approach to Westbrook’s trade market. “… Both picks for the Bulls guys is certainly something their brain trust has thought about. Otherwise they’d be irresponsible.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams, who has yet to play this season due to a right knee injury, is getting close to returning, according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter links). Williams has been doing 5-on-5 work as he enters the final stage of his rehab process.
- Responding to Michael Scotto’s interview with Jerami Grant, which addressed Grant’s upcoming free agency, Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Twitter link) says he doesn’t expect the Trail Blazers forward to even reach free agency next summer. Highkin believes the Blazers and Grant will reach an extension after he becomes eligible for a longer-term deal in January. For what it’s worth, Portland would be limited during the season to offering a four-year, $112.65MM extension, so if Grant – who is having a career year so far – wants to try to get more than that, he’d have to wait for his current contract to expire and become a free agent.
- In their first game without Karl-Anthony Towns available on Wednesday, the Timberwolves turned to rookie Wendell Moore to fill out their starting lineup. As Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes, Moore – who had played just 11 total minutes in four NBA appearances prior to Wednesday – was as surprised as anyone by the decision. “I came here and it was just another day,” this year’s No. 26 overall pick said after playing 20 minutes in a win over Memphis. “Came to get my work in. I was going to cheer my teammates on and just get this win. Once I got the news, I knew I had to shift my mind-set into gear and be ready to go.”
Speculative podcast rumors like this are utter nonsense. “Umm, we would like to trade the game’s biggest liability to you for your two best players. I mean, we might throw in a couple draft picks with protections on them.” wtf. Any sane GM would not do that in a million years.
Not to mention it would exacerbate the Lakers shooting issues. Nonsensical all the way around.
Its a great way for the Bulls to reboot the current disaster Zach Lavine & Lonzo Ball have unintentionally created by getting injured, and re-injured again. It’d be hard not to pull the trigger if Ball isn’t back, and Lavine is not his All-Star form by the trade deadline. Never thought of the expiring Westbrook contract as a franchise reboot before, but things have definitely gone south in Chicago this season, and I don’t hate this idea. Whatever Chicago paid for Derozan the Lakers will have to compensate, but Vucevic has lost some value in the market. Reaves will probably be a part of a deal of this magnitude I’d assume.
Bulls could get better deals by dealing Demar and Vuc separately…just a podcaster filling time…Vuc was traded to Boston the deadline he got traded to the bulls if you listened to reports, this bulls front office doesn’t leak anything and I highly doubt will be coerced into a trade by lakers personnel trying to create something from thin air
Bulls will definitely make the choice on their own, no doubt. They have no love for the Lakers. Not free anyway. I don’t think Vucevic is gonna receive a whole lotta interest when his deal is expiring, and teams will look to add him on a mid-level or something next season. There is a slim possibility he is packaged in a deal this season, but only as salary filler, and a very slight addition to most NBA rosters.
do it
Don’t you hate trades like that which only improve 1 team. Just because the money matches. Does 2 far away draft picks make the Bulls better? NO because you do not know how good those picks will be?
Unless Lavine recovers to full form & Ball’s injury outlook suddenly improves, what else is Derozan worth? Matching salary & a couple unprotected first round picks isn’t a bad offer?? Vucevic is expiring, and his play is not $22m worth either. Chicago is going backwards before they go forward again by the looks of it. Hope I’m wrong about the projected outlook, and Ball comes back, and the Bulls stay patient.
These are most trades in the nba nowadays
Where ya been ?
That Russ trade with the bulls has been circling through social media for weeks.
It looks terribly one sided for the lakers and I can’t see a world in which the bulls accept that.
Bulls get back an expiring deal and 2 firsts for their best player and their third best player.
Vuce alone cost them 2 firsts and Wendell Carter Jr who was only drafted a couple years prior early in the first.
Vucevic has not been Orlando Vucevic. This season he looks even less Vucevic than ever before, and his contract is expiring, not 2 more years left to go like it was before in the Carter deal.
Your right but DeRozan still has 2 years left and he’s a better player now than Vuce was 2 years ago.
Don’t get it twisted tho, I don’t really care for the Bulls. I like LaVine but I’d rather see the lakers good than Chicago.
Derozan is the value for sure, and possibly did increase his value in the last couple seasons. Still, 2 unprotected picks isn’t a terrible offer. Really depends on what Vucevic can return, and what players another team is offering. Westbrook, Reaves, Bryant and a couple unprotected 1sts seems not a bad haul for a reboot move. Its seems close to fair, but isn’t a blockbuster by any means.
Bulls looked so good last year until Ball got hurt. We shall see if they ever do anything again. Donovan can only coach what they are given.
those picks could be valuable down the road
i actually dont hate it for us. at most were a fringe playoff team right now having russ, lavine & patt williams would probably keep us on the same trajectory. plus we would get 40+ mil in cap room next year w. lonzo coming back & room for a max player + 2 picks in the future. lets do it
i hope the grammar police dont rip me apart im hungover lmao
The Bulls would be idiots to take that deal.
Westbrook and the unprotected 27 first and chi gets this year’s 2nd back for DeRozan and Ball.
Then bulls still have Caruso and vuc as chips to try and get a couple more firsts. And could have cap space.
So… was this like a fake trade by a fan? Bulls say no.
Bulls are about what we thought they’d be. It’s been frustrating so far. I still think they’ll get better and go on a run. The Bulls biggest problem is the stars have note consistently shined. I still think they win about the same number of games as last year. That probably only gets them to the play in this year. I wouldn’t want to play them
Hit post on accident… was trying to say… I still expect by end of season most teams would not want to play them in the playoffs.
Love this, Demar and Vuc have value, let’s trade them for a huge salary dump and a couple picks!!!! Terrible call for the Bulls, more Laker Homer rumours.
Also, am I the only one that thinks losing Their only draft picks for 40 years for 33&32 year old players going past their prime, coupled with a very aged Lebron and a glassy AD is a terrible call for Lakers too!!!