The 2022 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Los Angeles Lakers did not make a single move.
The big name the Lakers could’ve traded was Russell Westbrook. After losing in blowout fashion to the Milwaukee Bucks, reports indicated the team no longer believed winning was not possible with Westbrook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Trading Westbrook’s $44 million deal this summer with a $47 million player option next season wouldn’t be easy, but the Houston Rockets provided a way out since John Wall is on a similar contract.
However, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers declined trading Westbrook for Wall along with Los Angeles’ 2027 first-round pick:
.@ChrisBHaynes says Lakers declined Rockets offer of John Wall and a first-round pick for for Russell Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/rTtOUngTfD
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 11, 2022
It’s up to Westbrook and the Lakers to figure out an awkward situation and salvage the season.
