NBA trade rumors: Lakers, Jazz dip toes in trade talks for Russell Westbrook

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Solely six days stay till the NBA commerce deadline, and the league’s most historic franchise has discovered a nibble for its most polarizing participant.

Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz have entered “exploratory” commerce talks surrounding level guard Russell Westbrook, who’s taking part in on the ultimate season of a five-year, $206 million contract.

The Lakers traded for Westbrook throughout the summer season of 2021 in an experiment that has borne little fruit. LA missed the playoffs (and Play-In Match) final season and is preventing to maintain tempo within the Play-In race once more this yr.

Commerce rumors have surrounded Westbrook because the summer season, however the Lakers have discovered no suitors for the getting old star.

The Jazz, however, started this yr as one of many NBA’s finest tales after beginning the season 10-3 with a roster that was pegged as tank-caliber. Lauri Markkanen was named an All-Star reserve Thursday night time, however the Jazz have fallen to eighth within the Western Convention standings since their sturdy begin, which can trigger them to think about some veteran items.

Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk and Rudy Homosexual may all assist a crew with playoff aspirations – notably for a crew just like the Lakers in determined want of shooters.

The query is and all the time been how a lot draft compensation – and what kind — the Lakers are prepared to pair with Westbrook. LA can commerce its 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, however has been hesitant to mortgage the long run that far upfront to prop up a crew preventing to remain close to .500.

Haynes says Anthony Davis’ return, coupled with LA’s commerce for Rui Hachimura, has regalvanized the locker room. Perhaps it’s executed the identical to the entrance workplace.

Pelicans, Grizzlies in a “box-out” for Raptors wing O.G. Anunoby.

Toronto Raptors ahead O.G. Anunoby instructed reporters he doesn’t need to be traded, and Raptors reporters have expressed doubt that Toronto will transfer him.

However Haynes instructed Marc Stein this week on Stein’s #thisleague UNCUT podcast that Anunoby would “embrace” a transfer, and the suitors are lining up.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported this week that the Knicks would half with a number of first-round picks for Anunoby. And Stein and Haynes agreed that the Pelicans and Grizzlies, two of the West’s finest younger groups, need to stop the opposite from buying Anunoby.

“That’s the place there’s some boxing out happening,” Haynes stated. “… Memphis doesn’t need New Orleans to get O.G., and New Orleans doesn’t need Memphis to get O.G. That may be a truth.”

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