The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t given up on trading Russell Westbrook, but doing so won’t be easy.
Their options have become more limited over the last couple of weeks, but the price for jettisoning him has reportedly remained the same.
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, it will still take two future first-round draft picks attached to Westbrook to bring back some viable players for him.
Via Los Angeles Times:
“In conversations with executives from rival teams in both conferences, it’s clear what the cost for any deal is going to be. It’ll take at least one first-round pick to park Westbrook somewhere and a second first-round pick to bring back multiple rotation pieces, sources with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly said. Those prices could rise (possibly with pick swaps) or lower (bad contracts coming back to the Lakers) depending on variables.”
If a Westbrook trade is to happen at this point, it would likely have to involve the Utah Jazz and/or the Indiana Pacers.
L.A. is also reportedly interested in Cam Reddish, a young forward who plays for the New York Knicks.
If the Lakers are to be believed, they will be “comfortable” with Westbrook being on their roster when training camp starts if no deal can be reached.
