Westbrook Trades - Dream a Sweet Dream

[Eric Bieniemy]

I've seen reports of two teams being interested in trading for Westbrook, both for salary dump purposes.

Charlotte "seems" to want to come from under Hayward and Rozier's contracts, while Indiana "seems" to want to rid themselves of Brogdon and Hield.

Even if these reports are false, they give me hope.

I really hope Lakers are willing to include the draft picks for the "right" deals, because that Brogdon/Hield deal is particularly attractive. I'd include both picks in a deal like that.

Are there any other deals for Westbrook that the creative minds here can concoct? I think there zero fits for him other than maybe Washington, but several teams that may pull the trigger to clear future salary then buyout Westbrook out. I can see both Charlotte and Indiana doing this.

Any thoughts on these trade reports or original ideas?

[Stannis]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

[zimpy27]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

[Slava]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

This is the same front office that let Randle walk for nothing after his rookie deal. They are a bit simple but they were otherwise ahead of the league in evaluating Randle as an impact player.

[zimpy27]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

This is the same front office that let Randle walk for nothing after his rookie deal. They are a bit simple but they were otherwise ahead of the league in evaluating Randle as an impact player.

Yeah that's true actually.. forgot about the fact that he looked decent when Lakers didn't want to pay him.

So Randle trade not looking good.

I think Westbrook for Fournier+Kemba+Burks+Taj has legs. Or Fournier+Burks+Rose.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Brogdon and Hield lookin' better and better as the days go by.

Is this team prepared to throw ALL their picks on the table for such an endeavor? I don't see why they wouldn't, in all honesty. Indiana could throw in their backup center, Goga Bitadze, as a sweetener for the Lakers giving up two firsts.

If they can steal Otto Porter Jr. for the mini-MLE, all of a sudden this team looks formidable again:

PG - Brogdon - Reaves
SG - Nunn - Hield
C - Davis - Bitadze
PF - James - Tucker
SF - Johnson - Porter Jr.

This team is worth throwing in the picks.

[Stannis]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

haha yeah. The 2nd rounders were the joke. But we do actually have 9 2nd round picks.

What about first rounders?

[zimpy27]

Randle + Fournier + 9 2nd round picks for Westbrooke

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

haha yeah. The 2nd rounders were the joke. But we do actually have 9 2nd round picks.

What about first rounders?

Well the FRPs Lakers get would be just used to sell some other team to take Randle, a team that is looking to accumulate picks in rebuild mode by taking bad long-term salary. Knicks probably better adding FRPs to send Randle for some other team for a decent player.

Would you consider parting with IQ and taking back more salary than giving out?

Westbrook+THT for Randle+Fournier+IQ may work.
Lakers get a young athletic guard and move THTs contract off their books.

IQ, Reaves, LeBron, Randle, Davis -- Nunn, Fournier, SJ, Gabriel

Westbrook, Burks, RJ, Obi, Mitch -- Rose, Grimes, THT, Reddish, Noel

[Eric Bieniemy]

Randle is an awful fit with James and Davis unless he's relegated to backup PF/C, backing up Davis at C and James at PF.

[Kilroy]

Randle is an awful fit with James and Davis unless he's relegated to backup PF/C, backing up Davis at C and James at PF.

Who is a good fit next to LeBron and AD? Serious question...

Randle would cover for LeBron and Davis' Defensive lack of effort, on that end and would be PF on offense between AD and LeBron...

LeBron isn't really the inside threat he used to be and that's where Randle can help... He's also got a much better outside shot that Lakers fans remember...

That, and he's probably the single best player we could possibly get in a Westbrook trade... It's kind of an all-in gamble kind of thing, but I think the fit concerns are overblown...

That said, from a pure fit stand point of those three trade options, the Hayward/Rozier deal might be the best... Both have been known to play solid D and Hayward is a 30pt game waiting to happen still, and doesn't seem to mind playing a lesser role.

We've seen what pairing non D players with AD and LeBron does, so we need to stop thinking "Just add Shooters"... That won't work anymore...

[zimpy27]

Randle is an awful fit with James and Davis unless he's relegated to backup PF/C, backing up Davis at C and James at PF.

Who is a good fit next to LeBron and AD? Serious question...

Randle would cover for LeBron and Davis' Defensive lack of effort, on that end and would be PF on offense between AD and LeBron...

LeBron isn't really the inside threat he used to be and that's where Randle can help... He's also got a much better outside shot that Lakers fans remember...

That, and he's probably the single best player we could possibly get in a Westbrook trade... It's kind of an all-in gamble kind of thing, but I think the fit concerns are overblown...

That said, from a pure fit stand point of those three trade options, the Hayward/Rozier deal might be the best... Both have been known to play solid D and Hayward is a 30pt game waiting to happen still, and doesn't seem to mind playing a lesser role.

We've seen what pairing non D players with AD and LeBron does, so we need to stop thinking "Just add Shooters"... That won't work anymore...

As a bench big Randle would work so Lakers have a LeBron/AD, LeBron/Randle, Randle/AD rotation of PF/C.
But I can't see LeBron being an SF defensively anymore. If it does happen then the defense would be a struggle.
Reaves would be the SG/SF.
IQ or Melton could work at PG for athleticism and ball pressure - it's why I think if Lakers are taking Randle then they probably need IQ on top.

[One Love]

I like Heild & Bogdon (achillis issues) but ANY of the trades we are taking "marginal players on bad deals"...

"WAIVE" Westbrook ($15 for 3 years) & get a SOLID coach...

LBJ, AD, THT, Reaves, Dunn & Gabriel with a $3 mil, $6 mil & $10 mil exemption...

Lock up Monk with the $10 million & go shopping...

PG: _____ & Dunn
SG: Monk & Reaves
SF: THT & ______
PF: LBJ & _____
C: AD & Gabriel

Lakeshow Baby...

[Kilroy]

Randle is an awful fit with James and Davis unless he's relegated to backup PF/C, backing up Davis at C and James at PF.

Who is a good fit next to LeBron and AD? Serious question...

Randle would cover for LeBron and Davis' Defensive lack of effort, on that end and would be PF on offense between AD and LeBron...

LeBron isn't really the inside threat he used to be and that's where Randle can help... He's also got a much better outside shot that Lakers fans remember...

That, and he's probably the single best player we could possibly get in a Westbrook trade... It's kind of an all-in gamble kind of thing, but I think the fit concerns are overblown...

That said, from a pure fit stand point of those three trade options, the Hayward/Rozier deal might be the best... Both have been known to play solid D and Hayward is a 30pt game waiting to happen still, and doesn't seem to mind playing a lesser role.

We've seen what pairing non D players with AD and LeBron does, so we need to stop thinking "Just add Shooters"... That won't work anymore...

As a bench big Randle would work so Lakers have a LeBron/AD, LeBron/Randle, Randle/AD rotation of PF/C.
But I can't see LeBron being an SF defensively anymore. If it does happen then the defense would be a struggle.
Reaves would be the SG/SF.
IQ or Melton could work at PG for athleticism and ball pressure - it's why I think if Lakers are taking Randle then they probably need IQ on top.

You don't trade for Randle and put him on the bench... Has anyone actually watched him play the last 2 seasons? Even at his worst, he'd still be a distinct improvement over anyone we've had as 3rd fiddle in any lineup... And many nights, he'd be our clear second best option Offensively...
Randle has the ability to defend 2-5 when motivated... He can cover the toughest guy each night 3-5, which will allow AD and LeBron to take the easier cover...
If you were watching this season, THT was being asked to cover 4s and 5s for AD and LeBron... Reeves is a good young player who has shown a good scoring spark, but he's still a liability on defense a lot of nights because he's not super athletic and his footwork needs some work.. He gets spun around and blown by a lot... I like him but he's not a starter...

If we did the deal proposed, we'd have Fornier too... Who can't defend but is too good a 3pt shooter to put on the bench...

If we could get Quickley, great, but he'd be fighting EF for minutes, because we'd still need to have a ball handler on the floor with LeBron... Unless we have Randle could bring the ball up when LeBron isn't...

I think we'd have a decent lineup with:
THT (covers EFs guys and some of Lebrons, and shares ball handling duties)
Fournier
LeBron
Randle
AD

We'd have Reeves, Johnson, Gabriel off the bench... Maybe with IQ...

Nunn is supposed to exercise his option for next season too, so we'd have THT, Nunn, Fournier, and maybe IQ all listed as 2s... THT is a decent ball handler and Nunn is too, from what I remember... So those could be our 'PGs' next season...

Or we'll have some talent we can move for better talent...

[danfantastk32]

Who is a good fit next to LeBron and AD? Serious question...

Hate to say it, but PG would be a great fit. A good wing defender who can shoot from outside. Another one would be Klay. Both guys are good fits with alot of people/teams....but that type of guy would allow Lebron to camp down defensively, and take that load off. And someone who could catch & shoot would be great. Followed with the ability to do a little ball-handling / play making when Lebron was off the floor.

Next level down would a guy like Derosen...or really anyone like KCP....with just a little more consistency on his shot. What Lebron needs nowadays are defensive guys who can shoot. AD and Lebron can do the damage inside.

For that reason, I'm not so high on Randle. You could argue that we keep Lebron outside, and have Randle and AD down low. I think that it ends up getting clogged up....but I'm willing to listen. Now with that being said....I think we can safely assume 30 missed games by AD. So having Randle with just Lebron would be great. He would essentially be a poor mans AD. <-----THAT I see value in. But come playoffs, with everyone healthy (in theory), I think those 3 become an issue as far as spreading the D out. If our other two players were Steph and Klay...then ok. But otherwise, I think we become a great 90's team.

Now that said.....YES I take Randle back for Westbrook. No question. When I say it won't work....I think it wont be great. Not that it would necessarily be 'bad'. But with Randle's long long LONG - ass contract, I'd like to run this by Lebron and get him to agree to sign the extension first. AD and Randle would not be a good pairing by themselves. Not at all

[Eric Bieniemy]

Who is a good fit next to LeBron and AD? Serious question..

Lots of guys not named Julius Randle.

The perfect fit is an other wordly defender who can guard at least two positions, either SF/PF, SG/SF, or PG/SG.

He also must be a nearly 40 percent three-ball shooter.

It's a plus if this guy can also offer dribble penetration and get his own shot while being able to run the offense when Grandaddy Bron sits.

Clearly the answer here is Malcolm Brogdon, and if I'm the Lakers, I'd be moving hell and earth (aka throwing two firsts and a swap) to get him.

A Brogdon/Hield/Bitadze for Westbrook/2 FRPs and pick swap will have many Laker fans calling Pelinka a god, especially if he's able to steal Otto Porter Jr. on a one-year 5 million dollar deal.

The Lakers would be instant contenders again:

PG - Brogdon - Reaves
SG - Nunn - Hield
C - Davis - Bitadze
PF - James - Tucker
SF - Johnson - Porter

A Randle trade would be a dud by comparison, even without the picks.

[Stannis]

I appreciate that you realise that pick compensation would come from the Knicks in a trade like this. 9 SRPs made me laugh though.

I don't think Lakers would do it because of Randle's final year, they seem to be really against having contracts that go for more than 3 years. Plus Randle doesn't fit with Davis and old LeBron positionally.

However, no doubt the Lakers would be one of the few teams with an FO that would be simple enough to look at Randle's box score and be excited without looking further into impact, so I think there is a chance your proposed deal could get done.

haha yeah. The 2nd rounders were the joke. But we do actually have 9 2nd round picks.

What about first rounders?

Well the FRPs Lakers get would be just used to sell some other team to take Randle, a team that is looking to accumulate picks in rebuild mode by taking bad long-term salary. Knicks probably better adding FRPs to send Randle for some other team for a decent player.

Would you consider parting with IQ and taking back more salary than giving out?

Westbrook+THT for Randle+Fournier+IQ may work.
Lakers get a young athletic guard and move THTs contract off their books.

IQ, Reaves, LeBron, Randle, Davis -- Nunn, Fournier, SJ, Gabriel

Westbrook, Burks, RJ, Obi, Mitch -- Rose, Grimes, THT, Reddish, Noel

Disclosure, I'm pretty low on RJ. My trade proposal is Randle, Fournier, RJ, IQ for Westbrook, 2 first round picks, and 2 second round picks. Knicks can reset with the picks and cure this failed rebuid, and Lakers get 4 rotational players to continue the LBJ era.

[chefy]

highly doubt we can get brogdon and hield for westbrook.

[Eric Bieniemy]

highly doubt we can get brogdon and hield for westbrook.

Pacers save over 60 million dollars and get draft compensation. Why doubt? It's the same reason Kwame Brown got the Lakers Pau Gasol.

[Slava]

Brogdon and his feet are ticking injury scares. Think Bynum.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Brogdon and his feet are ticking injury scares. Think Bynum.

High risk. High reward.

The Lakers need to to do their due diligence and be as creative as possible -- maybe he never plays over 28 minutes a game ...

... or maybe they choose to pass on him after recieving more intel and realizing he has too many red flags.

Whatever they decide, just know that when trying the rid themselves of the mistake that was/is Westbrook, there will be risks at every turn.

They just have to find the one worth fighting for, the one worth laying your reputation and vulnerability out on line for.

Brogdon, if he checks out, is that kind of player.