On April 13, Beijing time, zach Lowey and salary expert Bobby Max participated in the latest episode of the NBA Today program, on which they talked about Westbrook's trading plan. Lowe proposed two plans to send Westbrook away, requiring the Lakers to take two first-round picks, and salary expert Max said: In this league, if you are willing to take two first-rounders, anyone can be sent away.
First, the show lists the current contract status of the Lakers' big three. Westbrook's contract has one year left for the 2022-23 season and is a $47.1 million player option. James' contract also has one year left for the 2022-23 season, which is $44.5 million. Thick Brow has three years left on his contract, $38 million for the 2022-23 season, $40.6 million for the 2023-24 season, and $43.2 million worth of player options for the 2024-25 season.
The host asked salary expert Max: "Can Westbrook be traded away?" ”
Max's response was straightforward: "He can be traded away." It's just that this transaction is different from when he was sent to the Wizards, or when he was sent to the Lakers. Now the deal with Westbrook is no longer the operation of the basketball category, but the operation of the financial aspect. The team that wants to get Westbrook is not trying to get him on the pitch, but sees him as a way to free up salary space and will consider buying out his contract. Like I said above, they want Westbrook, and that's no longer the reason for basketball. ”
Subsequently, the host invited the famous Zach Lowe to give his trading plan. Lowe proposed two deals on Westbrook.
One is the Lakers' 4-for-2 deal with the Pacers, with the Lakers sending Westbrook, Tucker, the 2027 first-round pick and the 2029 first-round pick in exchange for the Pacers' Brogdon and Hield.
The second is the Lakers' 3-for-2 deal plan with the Hornets, in which the Lakers sent Westbrook, the 2027 first-round pick and the 2029 first-round pick, and got hayward and Oubre of the Hornets.
Let's start with this plan for the Lakers and Pacers. "These two players of the Pacers have everything the Lakers need, which is projection, projection, projection!" "Pacers fans may not like the scheme because Brogdon and Hield are two good players, but the value of these two first rounds cannot be ignored," Lowe said. Whether I'm the general manager of the Lakers or the Pacers, I think it's a set of options worth discussing. ”
Let's talk about this plan for the Lakers and The Hornets. "Hayward is the key to matching Westbrook's salary, and the other chip could be Oubre or the other players of the Hornets. The Hornets could trade off two longer contracts, get a salary release and also get two valuable first rounds," Lowe said, "the Hornets aren't going to try any combination of Ramello Ball and Westbrook, they're just making the deal to get draft picks and then buy out Westbrook's contract." ”
Max then commented on Lowey's two proposals, and he personally preferred that Pacers would be willing to consider such a proposal. "This program is more meaningful for the reconstructed walkers. The unprotected first rounds of 2027 and 2029, which is what the Pacers want, have made it clear that they have made Halliburton the point guard of the future, which also dooms them not to need Brogdon anymore.
Max added: "As for the Hornets, unless they just want to buy out Westbrook, the deal doesn't make any sense, because Ball can't share the ball with Westbrook." Just considering Hayward's injury problems, he has missed a lot of games for two consecutive years, and if such an offer can be exchanged for two first rounds, consider it. ”