Getty Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ pursuit of Kyrie Irving looks to be over after reports surfaced about his desire to remain with the Brooklyn Nets next season.
However, that doesn’t mean the Lakers are out of options in their bid to remove Russell Westbrook from their payroll — and their roster. According to a July 25 article from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the Lakers could turn to the Utah Jazz as a potential trade partner for their superstar guard.
Bailey’s proposed trade looks like this:
Lakers would get: Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic
Jazz would get: Russell Westbrook, a 2027 first-round draft pick and two second-round draft picks
This trade would make sense for Los Angeles because they would get a veteran point guard who is impactful on both sides of the ball, along with an additional floor spacer who is proven at the NBA level, all while removing Westbrook from their roster.
In terms of finances, Conley has two years remaining on his three-year $68 million deal, but the 2023-24 season is only partially guaranteed for $14.3 million. Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is entering the last year of his $73 million deal and will be a free agent next summer.
Conley & Bogdanovic Would Fit Improve the Lakers
While it’s never easy to see a superstar talent leave your team, it’s been clear for a while that Westbrook’s skill set is not an ideal fit alongside those of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, especially given his ball-dominant nature.
Conley could help resolve that issue. His 3-point shooting ability — 38.2% on his career — would allow him to occupy an off-ball role, allowing James to continue being the primary ball handler for the Lakers.
Of course, adding a sharpshooter such as Bogdanovic would also help Los Angeles improve their spacing while adding versatility when attacking close-outs or re-locating during half-court sets.
Westbrook’s Career Hangs in the Balance
If Westbrook, 33, remains with the Lakers and endures a second treacherous season, then his career could begin to nose-dive. Right now, it’s understandable why there is little interest in the star guard: the $47 million he’s due to earn this season.
However, according to ESPN’S Tim Bontemps, Westbrook’s career post-Los Angeles could be hanging in the balance, which is why playing to Utah could make sense. The Jazz — who traded Rudy Gobert earlier this month and are listening to offers for Donovan Mitchell — appear to be setting the stage for a rebuild and could value Westbrook’s skill set.
The Lakers could attempt to negotiate with Westbrook on a buyout, but according to an April story by ESPN’s Ramona Shellburn, he’s not likely to consider that option. The Lakers are could simply release him and eat his $47 million salary, but according to Marc Stein, that scenario is not an option.
“He might be out of the league after the Lakers,” Bontemps said during an appearance on the July 22 episode of Brian Windhorst’s podcast, “The Hoop Collective.”
tim bontemps was on windy’s podcast talking about how westbrook should play like bruce brown for the lakers….
the westbrook disrespect just gets out of control with each year.
It seems clear that both Westbrook and the Lakers need a fresh start, and if a deal such as the one Bailey proposes does materialize, it would be in both parties’ best interest to seriously consider the move. Sure, Irving was always the primary target, but if he wishes to remain on the East Coast, Mike Conley would be an ideal stopgap until next summer.