Early returns on the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Russell Westbrook have not been great, and the situation has developed to a point where Westbrook could be on his way out just a few months after arriving.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Los Angeles Lakers have had internal discussions about trading Westbrook before the trade deadline.
“The trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook simply hasn’t blended as well as Lakers figures hoped, and Los Angeles has held internal discussions on trade scenarios for Russell Westbrook, league sources told B/R. But moving Westbrook and the two years, $91 million remaining on his contract does seem unlikely,” Fischer wrote.
Fischer notes that the problem the Lakers would encounter if they’re serious about trading Westbrook is that few players across the league can both match his salary of more than $41 million per year and be available to be traded.
Fischer mentions Kevin Love and John Wall as high-salary options, but tabs both as unlikely. The disgruntled Ben Simmons was also named as a possibility, but Fischer reports that Westbrook is not on the Philadelphia 76ers list of players they’d be willing to trade for Simmons.
The Lakers have had a disappointing start to their season, currently sixth-best in the Western Conference with a record of 15-13.
