Lakers mulling Russell Westbrook trade for Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder and Talen Horton-Tucker, per report

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers may well have taken an early summertime split this period, with James shedding in the first spherical for the first time in his job, but they completely hope to be back in the championship blend in 2021-22. There’s an argument to be manufactured that all they need for this to transpire is a nutritious James and Anthony Davis arrive playoff time, but the Lakers don’t want to rest on their 2020 laurels and will be hunting for regardless of what updates they find this summertime. 

Their selections are constrained. James and Davis are established to make $seventy six.five million on their possess. The projected income cap is $112 million, which the Lakers blow past just before even factoring in their first-spherical pick (No. 22 all round) or their possess totally free brokers — Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker, Andre Drummond, Markieff Morris, Wesley Matthews, Ben McLemore and Montrezl Harrell, who has a $9.7 million player possibility. 

Irrespective of who the Lakers do or don’t re-indication, they will likely have two routes to carry in outdoors assist. Very first, they will have the taxpayer mid-level exception, which ought to be somewhere just south of $6 million. Next, they can make a trade. To the latter possibility, check this out from Marc Spears of The Undefeated:

According to sources, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been on the hunt for veteran point guard, and [Chris] Paul is on the list. There have also been talks about Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook staying a possible prospect to shift back house to Los Angeles in a indication-and-trade offer that could contain totally free agent point guard Dennis Schroder, ahead Kyle Kuzma and guard Talen Horton-Tucker, sources claimed.

Our Sam Quinn outlined below why Paul, who has a $forty four.two million player possibility for upcoming period, is pretty much undoubtedly out of the Lakers’ price tag selection even if they were in some way able to trade every single player on their roster other than James and Davis to apparent their maximum amount of cap room. If Paul opted out and signed a multi-calendar year extension with Phoenix, the Lakers would have to get the job done a indication-and-trade to get him, which would difficult cap the Lakers, who would then barely be able to fill out their roster. 

With Westbrook it truly is different. He is currently underneath agreement with Washington. If the Lakers indication and trade Schroder, it truly is the Wizards who would be difficult-capped, not the Lakers. Westbrook is established to make $forty four.two million upcoming period. Let us say Schroder signals for $15 million each year, or in that selection. Add Kuzma and KCP, who make $13 million each individual, and the income works. 

Regardless of whether Westbrook is a fantastic healthy on the Lakers is one more story. You’ll find varying opinions on that entrance. The Lakers do want a playmaker to just take pressure off James (this was supposed to be Schroder’s price, but that didn’t very get the job done out as planned), but all over again the Lakers would be compromising shooting with Westbrook. 

Personally, I don’t see the attraction. I don’t see Westbrook as a guy who’s likely to be central to a championship operate any more. But hey, upcoming to LeBron and Davis, if Westbrook would just take a move back and participate in only to his strengths and commit defensively, you could see how a Lakers team with constrained selections for major advancement would be intrigued.