It appears the Rockets aren’t budging on their stance of a John Wall trade with the Lakers. In order to take back Russell Westbrook, they also want draft picks, per Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
The teams discussed a Wall-Westbrook swap on at least one occasion last season, and may have even come close in February. But the Rockets wanted a pick to take Westbrook then, and apparently still would today.
The Lakers, on the other hand, don’t have many tradeable picks to begin with, and aren’t big on the idea of giving up the ones they do have. So, not much has changed on that front.
As suspected, the Lakers and Westbrook very well may be together again next season, and now under new coach Darvin Ham.
Meanwhile, if the Rockets can’t find a trade for Wall, both sides may entertain the possibilities of a contract buyout. He is owed a whopping $47 million next season. He did not play at all in this past one.
“Wall was unwilling to give up considerable money with two years left on his deal, but after sitting out a season, it’s likely he’ll engage in buyout discussions before next season,” RealGM wrote.
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