Let's Set Odds: Will Russell Westbrook Be Moved at NBA Trade Deadline?
The NBA trade deadline is only two days away and we’ve already seen some big moves. C.J. McCollum got moved to the New Orleans Pelicans, Caris LeVert reunited with Jarrett Allen in Cleveland and the Kings gave up on Tyrese Haliburton after a year and a half.
While those deals are big, they aren’t a show-stopping blockbuster deal. It would be different if someone like… Russell Westbrook got traded.
Westbrook’s name has been the topic of trade rumors, as its been clear the fit with him and Anthony Davis and LeBron James hasn’t been what they were expecting.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been attached to nearly every star player in trade rumors since LeBron James got there, which is fitting considering the “LeGM” narrative out there. James even said this when asked about the trade deadline.
LeBron on the NBA trade deadline: "If you have an opportunity to get better, no one turns that down."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) February 7, 2022
With that in mind, could Westbrook be dealt within the next two days? Is there any team that would take him? Let’s set the odds for a Westbrook trade.
Odds Russell Westbrook is traded
- Yes: +350
- No: -475
Westbrook Is Traded
If Westbrook is traded, I would be shocked. Westbrook is not only a shell of his MVP-self, but even of the player he was in Houston two years ago. The Lakers would need to find a team with absolutely no prospects and are willing to buy him out. While I think he can be useful on a younger team as a mentor, his contract is just too big. At over $40 million, Westbrook is more of a burden than a blessing on a majority of the teams in the league.
The Lakers have most likely already looked around and simply weren’t able to find a suitor.
Westbrook Stays in Los Angeles
I’m not going to lie, things don’t look great in Los Angeles right now. Westbrook is getting boo’d by the home fans on wide open 3s. His play is being verbally assaulted in real time. However, his contract is just too big. The only place he could go is back to Houston, and that’s only because John Wall has the same contract.
The Lakers knew what they were signing up for when they traded for Westbrook. I think the contract restricts them from getting out of it and they will have to learn to work around him or build him back up.