As anticipated, Kevin Durant resolving his situation with the Brooklyn Nets has opened the trade floodgates. Many teams, if not every team, had been withholding assets for a potential Durant trade; however, with the superstar forward returning to Brooklyn, the league can move forward with other transactions.
The first major trade following the Durant news was the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Utah Jazz guard Patrick Beverley in exchange for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. The Lakers had expressed interest in Beverley since the veteran guard arrived in Utah, and they finally completed a deal to acquire the versatile defensive stopper. While the deal immediately makes the Lakers better, it also could shake the league up much more than some may realize.
What about Russ?
The elephant in the room, which was immediately addressed by fans across the league once this trade occurred, is the dynamic between Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook. The two veteran guards have had an ongoing feud for years, with Beverley even saying Westbrook “damaged his career” with his “Pat Bev trick ya’ll” comments.
At this point in their careers, Patrick Beverley is undeniably a better fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis than Westbrook is. Factoring in Westbrook’s perceived unwillingness to tackle role players tasks, the fit becomes even worse. This was addressed by Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who revealed in a recent report that the Lakers are now much more likely to cut ties with Russell Westbrook.
Where does Westbrook go?
It has been well documented at this point that nobody wants Russell Westbrook. Even with draft compensation attached, no team has currently been willing to take on the last year of Westbrook’s deal. This leaves the Lakers with a tough decision to make. According to Buha, the team may opt send him home if they cannot find a trade parter.
This is not the first time Buha has suggested this possibility, but it now becomes much more real with the arrival of Beverley. Paying Westbrook to sit at home is of course last resort for Los Angeles, but it may become their only option. That said, there is one last potential trade that could save the day.
Indiana saves the day
Russell Wetsbrook for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner has been the dream for Lakers fans all summer. If offered straight up, with no other picks or players involved, Indiana would hang up the phone. That said, the Lakers still have those coveted future first-round picks that could end up very high in the draft.
The Lakers have currently been unwilling to include both picks with an Indiana team they believe is playing hardball, but according to Buha, the trade will happen if the Lakers add both picks. This would not only remove the Russell Westbrook problem, but it would do so while bringing back two immediate rotation pieces. Considering where those future picks may end up, it makes sense why the Lakers have been hesitant to deal them both; however, the team has reportedly informed LeBron James that they will use both picks if the right deal presents itself.
As training camp inches closer, do not be surprised if the Westbrook to Indiana trade finally breaks, with the Pacers receiving significant compensation for taking on the triple-double king.
