RealGM

LA Lakers trade: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 LAL 1st (unprotected) [$54 million]
LA Lakers receive: Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Cedi Osman [$57 million]
Lakers balance the roster with players LeBron already has some experience with who can all spread the court.

Houston Rockets trade: Eric Gordon, Jae'Sean Tate
Houston Rockets receive: Talen Horton-Tucker, Ed Davis
Rockets move off of Gordon's next year and get a similar caliber prospect to Tate in return.

Cleveland Cavaliers trade: Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Ed Davis
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Russell Westbrook (bought out), Jae'Sean Tate, 2027 LAL 1st (unprotected)
Cleveland takes on about the same amount of money but gets some assets to compensate for the inevitable buyout.

seems way to good for cleveland and way way to much to pay for lakers.

I think Lakers are better keeping Russ and THT actually

Originally went off on the idea of bringing in Westbrook, but noticing the mention of the buy out now. I at least get the rationale, but I’m still gonna say no here. The first rounder is just way too far out, and Cedi has played really good ball this year. For a young developing team with playoff aspirations that already lacks talent on the wings, it’s just not a good idea to give him up with basically nothing coming back imo. Even Love has been solid in a role off the bench so we’re basically just losing two solid rotation guys for a first rounder over five years from now and a dude who probably shouldn’t crack a rotation.

I'm not sure I change the chemistry on this Cavs team, but the Cavs could actually use a scorer like Westbrook. They are painfully low on guys who can get a shot when they need one.

Also, this might push the Cavs into the tax.

buying out Westbrook doesn't get him off the cap next year, so why wouldn't CLE just buy out Love and save $15M in space next year?

i know some regulars here have declared Cedi a bad contract so it 'must be', but now that we have enough NBA bodies to not force him into doing too much (as he was asked to di for a good part of last year), his efficiency returned and he's not playing like a bad contract now.

an unprotected 1st is always tempting but not at the expense of limiting their options to build around the young core they have right now.