Michael Jordan reportedly has interest in acquiring Westbrook, Pacers joined the chat

[ciueli]

salary dumps usually come with picks, not the other way around. Don't expect the Lakers to add any picks if they're taking both Hayward and Rozier. Lakers should definitely do this, Hayward is a high IQ player and can actually shoot the ball. Rozier is better than Westbrook, we all know that, but his contract is terrible.

What picks could the Hornets add?

Westbrook is also a salary dump though. And Charlotte would almost certainly be taking on more money in the short term because the Lakers are looking to cut their tax payments for a team that isn't the title contender they thought it would be.

Westbrook is a $44m expiring aka “reset” which would give Charlotte almost 70m+ in cap space. They’d have to give up at least one future first round pick. Hayward is injury prone and Rozier is definitely a better player than Westbrook. But it’s the “reset” aspect that makes the deal favourable to Charlotte without any picks

You must be a Lakers fan if you think Charlotte is trading them Rozier + Hayward + a first round pick for Westbrook. That's insane and as bad an owner as MJ is even he wouldn't do that. The Lakers are so desperate to get rid of Westbrook they have floated waiving and stretching him, Charlotte offering Hayward + Oubre Jr. is probably about all they'll get if they're lucky.

[bstein14]

Hayward + Plumlee for Westbrook works in the trade checker and makes some sense for both teams for sure. Lakers could add a 2nd rounder or two to the deal as well.

Lakers end up taking on more salary the following year, but get a shooter that fits much better with the Lakers and also a decent backup center.

[Jables]

What is with all time greats having interest in terrible talent? Both Jordan and LeBron are atrocious at putting together teams, that’s the one area where I can’t decide who is worse.

It's a cap move, you're trying too hard

Everyone knows MJ is a comically bad talent evaluator. It's also not the first time he's had interest in Westbrook.

Oh, him and half the league? Why do people go out of their way to make drama where there is none, it's embarrassing.

[durden_tyler]

Ah the uber-competitive Jordan. Imagine the Hornets being semisuccessful with this move (say Homecourt Advantage in the playoffs next year), then Jordan fanboys will have another knock on LeBron, this time who's the better GM between these GOATs.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I'm really not sure why Charlotte does this unless they want to get out of the Hayward contract. On top of that what's the plan to put Ball at the 2?

Regardless this will be a huge win for the Lakers if they can pull this off

[KembaWalker]

I'm really not sure why Charlotte does this unless they want to get out of the Hayward contract. On top of that what's the plan to put Ball at the 2?

Regardless this will be a huge win for the Lakers if they can pull this off

Getting out of the Rozier and Hayward deals is an appealing option to us because LaMelo is so much better so much earlier than expected that his window is now priority #1 to the franchise, however its not a move we are DESPERATE to make, Hayward and Terry are both above average starters that are fine enough to keep for the duration of their contracts. so the idea of us giving picks to LA for that is probably laughable but I suppose I can't discount the chances of a Kupchak sweetheart deal to his ol pal Jeanie (though if I know LA history as well as I think I do I'd like to imagine he'd rather tell her to kick rocks without an unprotected 1st attached)

in a perfect world RWB would be told to stay home but a frugal revenue bleeder like us would probably not be able to resist the marketing and jersey selling to casual appeal. Russ would play much better next to LaMelo than he did next to Bron because Melo is a much more fluid ball mover, spacer, runner, and overall just much higher energy than current LeBron (not to mention the rest of that roster) but yeah, it would not be an ideal scenario for his development year.

[dribble1614]

greatest player ever but bad judge of talent!

[indiegrind]

Street Clothes Davis and Street Clothes Haywood will really make Lebron happy having to carry the team to a near playoff miss next year.

[JDR720]

Interesting scenario, might work for both teams for the reasons already discussed.

Rozier might fit well with his scoring, 3 point shot and doesn’t seem to be overly ball dominant (I.e. good fit with Bron) - is his defence at least average for a PG?

I don’t like the long term nature of Rozier’s contract, it might make him hard to trade in the future and reduces the ability to make free agent signings over the next couple of years.

Instead, Oubre Jnr might make more sense as he’s only under contract for $12m next year and the Lakers are DESPERATE for wings. I know his 3 point shot isn’t great but what’s his defence like?

Rozier doesn't play defense. It's why his contract is really bad.

And Oubre also doesn't play defense or pass. His contract next season isn't guaranteed either. He's one of the worst defenders in the league.

It's not a coincidence that the Hornets have a top 5 offense and a bottom 5 defense. So I'd do this trade. I'd deal with Westbrook for a year to get out of these bad contracts.

[NeoDragonKnight]

What is with all time greats having interest in terrible talent? Both Jordan and LeBron are atrocious at putting together teams, that’s the one area where I can’t decide who is worse.

Can add Isiah Thomas to the list, obviously not on their level as a player but a top 75 player. But man he is probably the worst top player to ever be an executive on so many levels, I would argue worse than Lebron and Jordan. The damage he did to the Knicks lasted a decade and it still feels like the echos of that are still reverberating and it was also a miracle the Raptors bounced back when he was a wrecking ball leaving the Raptors after being a scumbag, not to mention him destroying the CBA league.

[monopoman]

They’re sending LaMelo for him. Just the latest scam trade by the Lakers.. you heard it here first

Haven't you heard the Blazers are going to send Lillard for Westbrook, It seems like some portion of Lakers fans actually think this.

Make no mistake, if Portland is going to commit to rebuilding and ask Dame where he wants to go and he says to the Lakers, they will try to work out a deal. Portland is known for taking care of their star players when they need to move in another direction. And that 47 million is a huge expiring contract. It's one of those the perfect storm happening things. Look at around the draft for the Lakers to try to purchase a first round pick.

Here is the problem with that if he is leaving he wants to go to the best team he can, I doubt he considers a Lakers team with an injury plagued AD and a LBJ who is declining rapidly his best shot at a championship. Also something like Westbrook+1st round pick feels like a tremendously lowball offer to me in general. In the past when discussing teams he wouldn't mind playing for in a world where The Blazers didn't want him he said Lakers but he also listed Jazz.

I just assume at this stage of his career if he is leaving he would be more inclined to go to the best team possible. There likely is other teams that could match such an offer, and probably have a team more competitive with Lillard on the roster.

If the Lakers would have made the WCF this year or something, I could see Lillard being more intrigued with the team perhaps. But they couldn't even make the play-in game as a 9th or 10th seed.

[NO-KG-AI]

I'm gonna scream if yet another team bails the Lakers out of how monstrously inept they are.

[LAL1947]

I'm gonna scream if yet another team bails the Lakers out of how monstrously inept they are.

Watch on YouTube

[Noodlesoop]

Interesting scenario, might work for both teams for the reasons already discussed.

Rozier might fit well with his scoring, 3 point shot and doesn’t seem to be overly ball dominant (I.e. good fit with Bron) - is his defence at least average for a PG?

I don’t like the long term nature of Rozier’s contract, it might make him hard to trade in the future and reduces the ability to make free agent signings over the next couple of years.

Instead, Oubre Jnr might make more sense as he’s only under contract for $12m next year and the Lakers are DESPERATE for wings. I know his 3 point shot isn’t great but what’s his defence like?

Rozier doesn't play defense. It's why his contract is really bad.

And Oubre also doesn't play defense or pass. His contract next season isn't guaranteed either. He's one of the worst defenders in the league.

It's not a coincidence that the Hornets have a top 5 offense and a bottom 5 defense. So I'd do this trade. I'd deal with Westbrook for a year to get out of these bad contracts.

You’re scaring me off scary Terry!

In that case trying to get Plumlee might make more sense although I’m not a fan of paying back up centre anything more than the minimum but it’s only one year - actually, far as I’m aware, Plumlee isn’t great defensively and he doesn’t shoot the 3 so it’s a wash with taking a risk on Oubre Jnr instead for me as there’s so few wings in the Lakers’ roster.

[JN61]

Westbrook is better playmaker than Ball but Ball is just ok in this league as a playmaker. I don't know how effective Ball would be off the ball as SG. Westbrook has shown he can play with high scoring players but I'm not sure Ball is that.

[JN61]

People making fun of Westbrook/wall deal end the contract. How are the heat gotta to do with jimmy butler

Butler can’t shoot but can still get to the rim FOR NOW.

Let’s see how butlers 2024-25 and 2025/26 age 35 and 36 season look at 48/52 million.

So don’t laugh at Westbrook deals. It’s gonna to come back and hit other teams as well or players being mocked like Westbrook and Wall. But guess what? Westbrook and wall don’t care. Their contracts are guaranteed

Butler game never relied on burst, he came into the league playing like an effective Andre Roberson

Would you pay effective Andre Roberson 50 mil? Andre was also better defender on his peak than Butler.

[FreeThrowLine]

Westbrook is better playmaker than Ball

[Pointgod]

Westbrook is also a salary dump though. And Charlotte would almost certainly be taking on more money in the short term because the Lakers are looking to cut their tax payments for a team that isn't the title contender they thought it would be.

Westbrook is a $44m expiring aka “reset” which would give Charlotte almost 70m+ in cap space. They’d have to give up at least one future first round pick. Hayward is injury prone and Rozier is definitely a better player than Westbrook. But it’s the “reset” aspect that makes the deal favourable to Charlotte without any picks

You must be a Lakers fan if you think Charlotte is trading them Rozier + Hayward + a first round pick for Westbrook. That's insane and as bad an owner as MJ is even he wouldn't do that. The Lakers are so desperate to get rid of Westbrook they have floated waiving and stretching him, Charlotte offering Hayward + Oubre Jr. is probably about all they'll get if they're lucky.

I’m a Lakers fan that wants to get ride of Westbrook, but any GM that even suggests giving a first round pick for him should be fired on the spot. I can see a Porzingis like trade where Westbrook is moved for less desirable contracts. As long as some shooting comes back, might be the best we can get as Lakers fans but I’m not holding out hope.

[Diop]

Rozier would be like a super hero version of Monk. Lakers fans would love him

[IAMZOOTED2]

MICHAEL JEFFERY JORDAN ARE U OUT YO GOD-DANGED MIND??!!