Lakers source: "No light at the end of the tunnel" for 'untradeable' Westbrook. "Has to figure it out."

[TylersLakers]

Lebron gave up at allstarbreak once we didnt trade brick. Waive and stretch is our only hope

Seriously. This might be the only option. If Russ gives back money in a buyout (somewhere between the vet min which is 2.6M and the non-taxpayer MLE which is 10.3M and the 6.0M which is the tax-payer MLE.. although, -whispers- who's gonna pay him that?), the cap hit will be somewhere between $12.3-$14.7M a season for 3 seasons.

They would stretch him and then be able to offer Malik Monk (or someone else) a contract starting at 10.3M a season. They would also have the bi-annual exception starting at $4M to sign a player.

The only other option is trading him and Eric Pincus recently went over an interesting scenario:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029237-how-the-inevitable-lakers-russell-westbrook-divorce-could-play-out

By getting under the tax, Los Angeles would also have its bi-annual exception, which is projected to start at $4.0 million (up to two seasons). By stretching Westbrook, the Lakers could have Talen Horton-Tucker, Stanley Johnson, Austin Reaves, James, Davis and Monk. Nunn is likely to opt into his final year after missing most of this season. The Lakers would then only have the bi-annual and minimum contracts to flesh out the rest of the roster.

Stretching Westbrook's salary would probably incur tax-related restrictions in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but getting the roster back to contention is the immediate issue. Does subtracting Westbrook and bringing back nearly the same team make the Lakers a contender?

Can the Lakers instead find a team to take on Westbrook’s salary in trade, and at what cost?

At the February 10 deadline, Los Angeles refused to deal a first-rounder to the Houston Rockets for John Wall. One NBA source said the Rockets hope to revisit a deal over the summer, but several others questioned the logic, noting that Houston will probably just buy out Wall if the Lakers cut Westbrook. If so, L.A. might be able to sign Wall, who is represented by Klutch Sports Group, to a minimum contract (or bi-annual) without giving up any draft compensation.

If James agrees to an extension, the Lakers may be more willing to offer one or two firsts (2027 and 2029) as compensation to get out of Westbrook's salary.

The Thunder have significant cap room until July 1 and may be willing to take on unwanted payroll to add to their bounty of draft capital. One first probably won't be enough for Westbrook, but could two picks—years after James and Davis may be long gone—entice OKC?

The Lakers would need to take back Derrick Favors and Mike Muscala. Favors would need to pick up his $10.2 million option, and it’s widely assumed he will. Oklahoma City would also opt Muscala into 2022-23 at $3.5 million to make an unbalanced trade legal before July, giving the team enough cap space to absorb Westbrook's deal.

That's an undeniably high price for two future firsts, but Oklahoma City should be able to avoid luxury taxes with a prearranged buyout while also getting out of Favors' salary. But what does it accomplish for the Lakers?

The roster would be nearly the same as if they stretched Westbrook, but with Favors and Muscala. Even if the Lakers can avoid the luxury tax for the next three seasons, the two big men aren't worth a pair of first-rounders.

Or another scenario involving a 4-team deal:

If the Thunder are willing to take on Westbrook, Los Angeles would need to scour the rest of the league for a multi-team trade to make it worthwhile.

Will the restructuring Indiana Pacers look to part with Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner and/or Buddy Hield? Are the Charlotte Hornets committed to Gordon Hayward, who is owed $61.6 million over the next two seasons? The New York Knicks may look to get out of players like Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel.

And do any of those teams stand to benefit from making a three-way deal with the Lakers and Thunder? What do they get out of it, outside of dumping salary? A two-team trade is difficult enough.

A wild (but cap-worthy) four-team fake trade idea like Westbrook to the Thunder, with Mason Plumlee and Hayward from Charlotte (plus Muscala) to the Pacers, plus Myles Turner to the Hornets and Brogdon, Hield and Favors to the Lakers is a lot to digest. Players like Plumlee, Muscala and Favors can go elsewhere, and P.J. Washington could make some sense for the Thunder but would require additional salary out of OKC.

Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks
Lakers receive: Brogdon, Hield, Favors
Hornets receive: Myles Turner, Muscala
Pacers receive: Plumlee, Hayward

Lakers would have a roster of:

Brogdon/Nunn
Hield/
Reaves/THT/
LeBron/Stanley/
Davis/Favors

They would also have a tax-payer MLE of $6M to spend on additional wings. Bruce Brown anyone? Bring back Melo with a vet minimum, buy some athleticism with a 2nd round pick. I love the look of that roster. With a mostly healthy AD and LeBron, that roster is a title contender.

[stan francisco]

Lebron gave up at allstarbreak once we didnt trade brick. Waive and stretch is our only hope

Nah, I think not. Is that you, Mark Cuban?

I’d say that if Nunn and AD are healthy when the play-in starts, this season isn’t over. One seven game series at a time can be done.

If healthy when the post season starts, we can still peak and beat quality teams one series at a time. It’s all about the defense.

And health.

Delusional, have u seen the defense?

Exactly. No defense, no rings.

With a team of veterans only, don’t expect much defense during the regular 82. Defense is to a very large degree a mindset, so the vets could flick the switch, yes. But it’d better start now and how’s Westbrook going to handle not starting?

[TylersLakers]

As far as trades and Westbrook is concerned - Bill Simmons discussed one made up trade and it sounded plausible.

3 team trade between OKC/Portland/Lakers:

Lakers receive: Lillard
Blazers receive: THT, AD, Nunn, Favors
Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks from Portland

So we'd have a roster of

- Dame (42.5M)
- LeBron (44.5M)
- Stanley (2.4M)
- Reaves (1.6M)

The salary cap is $121M next season, so we'd have around $30M of cap space to add to that. I'd absolutely consider this. Surround these 4 with as many athletic, defensive-minded players that you can. You could also add Monk to this group. Although if you did that, every other player would need to be a big wing.

[JRoy]

As far as trades and Westbrook is concerned - Bill Simmons discussed one made up trade and it sounded plausible.

3 team trade between OKC/Portland/Lakers:

Lakers receive: Lillard
Blazers receive: THT, AD, Nunn, Favors
Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks from Portland

So we'd have a roster of

- Dame (42.5M)
- LeBron (44.5M)
- Stanley (2.4M)
- Reaves (1.6M)

The salary cap is $121M next season, so we'd have around $30M of cap space to add to that. I'd absolutely consider this. Surround these 4 with as many athletic, defensive-minded players that you can. You could also add Monk to this group. Although if you did that, every other player would need to be a big wing.

No thanks from POR.

[madmaxmedia]

As far as trades and Westbrook is concerned - Bill Simmons discussed one made up trade and it sounded plausible.

3 team trade between OKC/Portland/Lakers:

Lakers receive: Lillard
Blazers receive: THT, AD, Nunn, Favors
Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks from Portland

So we'd have a roster of

- Dame (42.5M)
- LeBron (44.5M)
- Stanley (2.4M)
- Reaves (1.6M)

The salary cap is $121M next season, so we'd have around $30M of cap space to add to that. I'd absolutely consider this. Surround these 4 with as many athletic, defensive-minded players that you can. You could also add Monk to this group. Although if you did that, every other player would need to be a big wing.

No thanks from POR.

I don’t think Portland is at the stage of giving up draft picks unless it’s to add guys around Lillard, not replace him.

[TylersLakers]

As far as trades and Westbrook is concerned - Bill Simmons discussed one made up trade and it sounded plausible.

3 team trade between OKC/Portland/Lakers:

Lakers receive: Lillard
Blazers receive: THT, AD, Nunn, Favors
Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks from Portland

So we'd have a roster of

- Dame (42.5M)
- LeBron (44.5M)
- Stanley (2.4M)
- Reaves (1.6M)

The salary cap is $121M next season, so we'd have around $30M of cap space to add to that. I'd absolutely consider this. Surround these 4 with as many athletic, defensive-minded players that you can. You could also add Monk to this group. Although if you did that, every other player would need to be a big wing.

No thanks from POR.

Yep, that was my problem with the trade.

Simons, Hart, AD and Nurkic isn't winning two rounds in the playoffs. What's the incentive to do it?

[SK21209]

Lebron gave up at allstarbreak once we didnt trade brick. Waive and stretch is our only hope

Seriously. This might be the only option. If Russ gives back money in a buyout (somewhere between the vet min which is 2.6M and the non-taxpayer MLE which is 10.3M and the 6.0M which is the tax-payer MLE.. although, -whispers- who's gonna pay him that?), the cap hit will be somewhere between $12.3-$14.7M a season for 3 seasons.

They would stretch him and then be able to offer Malik Monk (or someone else) a contract starting at 10.3M a season. They would also have the bi-annual exception starting at $4M to sign a player.

The only other option is trading him and Eric Pincus recently went over an interesting scenario:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029237-how-the-inevitable-lakers-russell-westbrook-divorce-could-play-out

By getting under the tax, Los Angeles would also have its bi-annual exception, which is projected to start at $4.0 million (up to two seasons). By stretching Westbrook, the Lakers could have Talen Horton-Tucker, Stanley Johnson, Austin Reaves, James, Davis and Monk. Nunn is likely to opt into his final year after missing most of this season. The Lakers would then only have the bi-annual and minimum contracts to flesh out the rest of the roster.

Stretching Westbrook's salary would probably incur tax-related restrictions in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but getting the roster back to contention is the immediate issue. Does subtracting Westbrook and bringing back nearly the same team make the Lakers a contender?

Can the Lakers instead find a team to take on Westbrook’s salary in trade, and at what cost?

At the February 10 deadline, Los Angeles refused to deal a first-rounder to the Houston Rockets for John Wall. One NBA source said the Rockets hope to revisit a deal over the summer, but several others questioned the logic, noting that Houston will probably just buy out Wall if the Lakers cut Westbrook. If so, L.A. might be able to sign Wall, who is represented by Klutch Sports Group, to a minimum contract (or bi-annual) without giving up any draft compensation.

If James agrees to an extension, the Lakers may be more willing to offer one or two firsts (2027 and 2029) as compensation to get out of Westbrook's salary.

The Thunder have significant cap room until July 1 and may be willing to take on unwanted payroll to add to their bounty of draft capital. One first probably won't be enough for Westbrook, but could two picks—years after James and Davis may be long gone—entice OKC?

The Lakers would need to take back Derrick Favors and Mike Muscala. Favors would need to pick up his $10.2 million option, and it’s widely assumed he will. Oklahoma City would also opt Muscala into 2022-23 at $3.5 million to make an unbalanced trade legal before July, giving the team enough cap space to absorb Westbrook's deal.

That's an undeniably high price for two future firsts, but Oklahoma City should be able to avoid luxury taxes with a prearranged buyout while also getting out of Favors' salary. But what does it accomplish for the Lakers?

The roster would be nearly the same as if they stretched Westbrook, but with Favors and Muscala. Even if the Lakers can avoid the luxury tax for the next three seasons, the two big men aren't worth a pair of first-rounders.

Or another scenario involving a 4-team deal:

If the Thunder are willing to take on Westbrook, Los Angeles would need to scour the rest of the league for a multi-team trade to make it worthwhile.

Will the restructuring Indiana Pacers look to part with Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner and/or Buddy Hield? Are the Charlotte Hornets committed to Gordon Hayward, who is owed $61.6 million over the next two seasons? The New York Knicks may look to get out of players like Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel.

And do any of those teams stand to benefit from making a three-way deal with the Lakers and Thunder? What do they get out of it, outside of dumping salary? A two-team trade is difficult enough.

A wild (but cap-worthy) four-team fake trade idea like Westbrook to the Thunder, with Mason Plumlee and Hayward from Charlotte (plus Muscala) to the Pacers, plus Myles Turner to the Hornets and Brogdon, Hield and Favors to the Lakers is a lot to digest. Players like Plumlee, Muscala and Favors can go elsewhere, and P.J. Washington could make some sense for the Thunder but would require additional salary out of OKC.

Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks
Lakers receive: Brogdon, Hield, Favors
Hornets receive: Myles Turner, Muscala
Pacers receive: Plumlee, Hayward

Lakers would have a roster of:

Brogdon/Nunn
Hield/
Reaves/THT/
LeBron/Stanley/
Davis/Favors

They would also have a tax-payer MLE of $6M to spend on additional wings. Bruce Brown anyone? Bring back Melo with a vet minimum, buy some athleticism with a 2nd round pick. I love the look of that roster. With a mostly healthy AD and LeBron, that roster is a title contender.

This is the right line of thinking, although I think with a Brogdon/Hield backcourt we probably would (and should) go back to starting AD at the 4 and playing a more traditional starting lineup. I'd even consider keeping Vogel at that point. I also think Indiana might be willing to do just take Westbrook/picks/maybe THT or Nunn for Brogdon/Hield themselves, they want to rebuild around Haliburton/Duarte in the backcourt and Rick would have no problem benching Russ if he didn't accept a role coming off the bench.

The other path, I think, is to convince Lillard or Beal to demand a trade to the Lakers specifically and then offer the Russ/unprotected picks package. Its an extreme long shot, but I could see Beal in particular pursuing it and the Wizards obliging. They liked Russ when they had him.

[JRoy]

Lebron gave up at allstarbreak once we didnt trade brick. Waive and stretch is our only hope

Seriously. This might be the only option. If Russ gives back money in a buyout (somewhere between the vet min which is 2.6M and the non-taxpayer MLE which is 10.3M and the 6.0M which is the tax-payer MLE.. although, -whispers- who's gonna pay him that?), the cap hit will be somewhere between $12.3-$14.7M a season for 3 seasons.

They would stretch him and then be able to offer Malik Monk (or someone else) a contract starting at 10.3M a season. They would also have the bi-annual exception starting at $4M to sign a player.

The only other option is trading him and Eric Pincus recently went over an interesting scenario:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029237-how-the-inevitable-lakers-russell-westbrook-divorce-could-play-out

By getting under the tax, Los Angeles would also have its bi-annual exception, which is projected to start at $4.0 million (up to two seasons). By stretching Westbrook, the Lakers could have Talen Horton-Tucker, Stanley Johnson, Austin Reaves, James, Davis and Monk. Nunn is likely to opt into his final year after missing most of this season. The Lakers would then only have the bi-annual and minimum contracts to flesh out the rest of the roster.

Stretching Westbrook's salary would probably incur tax-related restrictions in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but getting the roster back to contention is the immediate issue. Does subtracting Westbrook and bringing back nearly the same team make the Lakers a contender?

Can the Lakers instead find a team to take on Westbrook’s salary in trade, and at what cost?

At the February 10 deadline, Los Angeles refused to deal a first-rounder to the Houston Rockets for John Wall. One NBA source said the Rockets hope to revisit a deal over the summer, but several others questioned the logic, noting that Houston will probably just buy out Wall if the Lakers cut Westbrook. If so, L.A. might be able to sign Wall, who is represented by Klutch Sports Group, to a minimum contract (or bi-annual) without giving up any draft compensation.

If James agrees to an extension, the Lakers may be more willing to offer one or two firsts (2027 and 2029) as compensation to get out of Westbrook's salary.

The Thunder have significant cap room until July 1 and may be willing to take on unwanted payroll to add to their bounty of draft capital. One first probably won't be enough for Westbrook, but could two picks—years after James and Davis may be long gone—entice OKC?

The Lakers would need to take back Derrick Favors and Mike Muscala. Favors would need to pick up his $10.2 million option, and it’s widely assumed he will. Oklahoma City would also opt Muscala into 2022-23 at $3.5 million to make an unbalanced trade legal before July, giving the team enough cap space to absorb Westbrook's deal.

That's an undeniably high price for two future firsts, but Oklahoma City should be able to avoid luxury taxes with a prearranged buyout while also getting out of Favors' salary. But what does it accomplish for the Lakers?

The roster would be nearly the same as if they stretched Westbrook, but with Favors and Muscala. Even if the Lakers can avoid the luxury tax for the next three seasons, the two big men aren't worth a pair of first-rounders.

Or another scenario involving a 4-team deal:

If the Thunder are willing to take on Westbrook, Los Angeles would need to scour the rest of the league for a multi-team trade to make it worthwhile.

Will the restructuring Indiana Pacers look to part with Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner and/or Buddy Hield? Are the Charlotte Hornets committed to Gordon Hayward, who is owed $61.6 million over the next two seasons? The New York Knicks may look to get out of players like Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel.

And do any of those teams stand to benefit from making a three-way deal with the Lakers and Thunder? What do they get out of it, outside of dumping salary? A two-team trade is difficult enough.

A wild (but cap-worthy) four-team fake trade idea like Westbrook to the Thunder, with Mason Plumlee and Hayward from Charlotte (plus Muscala) to the Pacers, plus Myles Turner to the Hornets and Brogdon, Hield and Favors to the Lakers is a lot to digest. Players like Plumlee, Muscala and Favors can go elsewhere, and P.J. Washington could make some sense for the Thunder but would require additional salary out of OKC.

Thunder receive: Westbrook, picks
Lakers receive: Brogdon, Hield, Favors
Hornets receive: Myles Turner, Muscala
Pacers receive: Plumlee, Hayward

Lakers would have a roster of:

Brogdon/Nunn
Hield/
Reaves/THT/
LeBron/Stanley/
Davis/Favors

They would also have a tax-payer MLE of $6M to spend on additional wings. Bruce Brown anyone? Bring back Melo with a vet minimum, buy some athleticism with a 2nd round pick. I love the look of that roster. With a mostly healthy AD and LeBron, that roster is a title contender.

This is the right line of thinking, although I think with a Brogdon/Hield backcourt we probably would (and should) go back to starting AD at the 4 and playing a more traditional starting lineup. I'd even consider keeping Vogel at that point. I also think Indiana might be willing to do just take Westbrook/picks/maybe THT or Nunn for Brogdon/Hield themselves, they want to rebuild around Haliburton/Duarte in the backcourt and Rick would have no problem benching Russ if he didn't accept a role coming off the bench.

The other path, I think, is to convince Lillard or Beal to demand a trade to the Lakers specifically and then offer the Russ/unprotected picks package. Its an extreme long shot, but I could see Beal in particular pursuing it and the Wizards obliging. They liked Russ when they had him.

Pretty sure that’s tampering.