Lakers Will Need To Trade At Least One Pick To Unload Russell Westbrook

If the Lakers simply want to trade Russell Westbrook, and receive next-to-nothing in return, they will still have to send out at least one first-round pick, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

If the Lakers want something more than that in exchange for Westbrook, such as a rotation player, they’ll have to give up two first-rounders, Woike added, echoing previous reports.

Sources have told Hoops Wire that the Lakers have talked to no less than five teams about a Westbrook trade this offseason, as we relayed here.

Recently, LA has been linked to the Pacers and Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, as well as the Knicks and Cam Reddish. They have two first-rounders that fit the criteria of being trade-eligible, in 2027 and ’29.

The Lakers reportedly did not want to move both picks in a deal for Hield and Turner.

That said, despite their fairly desperate attempts to trade Westbrook and his expiring $47.1 million deal, the Lakers are comfortable bringing him back for another run, per Woike.

Westbrook, 33, averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 78 games last season, but proved to be an overall uneven fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis (when healthy).

The Lakers recently acquired Patrick Beverley in a trade with the Jazz, ramping up talk that they are looking to move on from Westbrook.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently spoke of the Lakers’ attempts at deal on the HoopsHype podcast.

“I’ve heard the Lakers are still reluctant to include that second first-round pick,” Buha said. “Maybe that’s something that changes closer to training camp. I know It would’ve changed if Kyrie Irving was still available. That would’ve been the one scenario in which the two picks would’ve been on the table. Aside from that, they’re looking at it like, can we do one first-round pick and a couple of seconds or one pick and a protected pick or pick swap?”