The value of the Lakers guard Westbrook's deal is getting bleaker. Many teams don't consider bringing in Westbrook directly, but need the Lakers to send another first-round draft pick, even if the chips in their hands are very bad. Such is the case with the Rockets, for example.
This season, the Rockets have not let Wall play in order to cultivate young players, but it is Wall, a chip that no one in the whole league wants, and now it is asked by the Rockets to "Westbrook + 2027 first round pick".
According to US media reports, only if the Lakers are willing to give away the 2027 first-round draft pick, the Rockets will consider a deal with Wall for Westbrook.
You know, when Wall and Westbrook swapped last season, it was the Wizards who took the 2023 first-round draft pick (lotto pick protection) to complete the transaction. At that time, Wall had become a player that no one wanted. A year later, Wall couldn't play on the Rockets, and Westbrook was at least james and Davis, but Westbrook's deal was worth as little as Wall's.
Of course, this is only a unilateral consideration of the Rockets. However, this can also explain the dismal value of Westbrook's transactions to some extent.
At least for now, Westbrook is indeed a player that no one wants, even Lakers fans have frequently booed him, and the Lakers have publicly hinted that they are willing to trade Westbrook.
But the problem is that Westbrook really has no deal value now, not that he is incompetent, but in addition to the $44.21 million contract this season, Westbrook is likely to execute the $47.06 million contract option this summer, which is obviously something that any team does not want to see. Otherwise, if Westbrook only has the expiring contract left this season, I believe there will be a large number of teams willing to get him, especially the rebuilding team, after all, that will free up salary space.