Even before this year\’s NBA season started, there have been talks about Los Angeles Lakers trying to trade their point guard Russell Westbrook. And his poor start to the 22-23 season did not help his case either. Previously, there were rumors that Westbrook may head to Indiana Pacers. But now, new reports indicate that the Lakers might trade him to Charlotte Hornets. Will this happen, or is it just mere speculation once again? Keep reading to find out.
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a change after a dreadful start to the season that included four straight defeats. Looks like Russell Westbrook is the key figure of interest in all those defeats. The former NBA MVP was considered to be finished before the season started, according to Lakers supporters, the media, and the club itself. And now, a fresh report suggests that Russell Westbrook would be traded to the Charlotte Hornets in light of guard Terry Rozier\’s impending return, despite the team\’s unexpected 2-1 start.
Will The Lakers Trade Russell Westbrook To Charlotte Hornets?
The LA front office is keeping an eye on the position of several players, particularly Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets, according to Shams Charania of the Athletic. Although a third team would probably need to be engaged, this transaction may make sense for both teams. If that occurs, the following is the ideal trade from the Lakers to replace Russell Westbrook for Terry Rozier. Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, two seasoned NBA players from the Charlotte Hornets, were mentioned in the two\’s potential trade proposal.
The three-point line\’s use, as well as playmaking, are the causes. According to Charania, the playmaker for the Hornets\’ prospects of making the playoffs will determine whether or not he gets traded. This season, Russell Westbrook has performed as poorly as everyone anticipated. The nine-time All-Star has played three games, scoring 10.3 points on average and dishing out 4.3 assists. He has shot an absurd 8.4% from beyond the arc. However, Rozier is a reliable shooter who is averaging 19.3 points per game. He has hit 37.4 percent from outside the arc this season.
Elsewhere, even if Westbrook\’s performance has suffered, some still hold out hope that a new beginning would help. Brian Scalabrine and Frank Isola, analysts for SiriusXM NBA Radio, recently spoke about a potential trade.
Additionally, Westbrook\’s contract is up for renewal, which is typically in great demand. Any deal involving Russell Westbrook would enable the rival team to release a sizable amount of cap space. This summer, Westbrook decided to exercise his player option for the 2022–23 season. This would cost him upwards of $47 million. The Westbrook trade drama continues, and we can only wait to see what happens next.
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