Lakers rumors: Los Angeles trade lands proposed by Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood in favor of Russell Westbrook

League sources said that while Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook was not traded over the summer Sam Amic, Shams Charania and Jovan Buha from Athletic That the possibility of 2016-2017 MVP trading in the coming weeks and months is still real.

Westbrook in the final year of his contract ($47,063,478), so he could get closer to the 2023 trading deadline where the difference could be drawn to his expiring salary.

A Western Conference executive who spoke to Sean Daveney, a Heavy.com insider, suggested a Westbrook deal the Lakers could make with the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles will acquire Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway, Jr., for Westbrook.

“There’s going to be a team that gets out and has a great season,” the NBA manager told Devine. “Someone gets hurt, someone doesn’t play well, someone else gets hurt and it’s a mess. This is the kind of team that will look at their bad contracts and maybe want to get rid of them. That’s the possibility out there. If Luca [Doncic] He gets hurt in Dallas and the Lakers face Hardaway and Christian Wood with Ross without giving up a draft pick, something like that. The city of Dallas can clear its books a bit.”

This proposed trade does not qualify to take place under the CBA rules because the Mavericks would be above the luxury threshold. Westbrook’s incoming salary exceeds the allowable salary through the 125% plus rule of $100,000. Dallas will need to cut $4,563,812.

The Mavericks could add Josh Green and Frank Ntelikina to the deal. The proposed final trade would send Westbrook to Dallas, Wood, Hardaway Jr., Greene and Netellikina to Los Angeles.

Wood and Hardaway Jr. can thrive with the Lakers

Wood and Hardaway Jr. can thrive with the Lakers because they bring certain skills L.A. needs around All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Wood is a large sports game that runs on edges and can catch splinters, stretch the floor, and protect paint, while Hardaway Jr. He is a sniper from outside the bow.

Wood spent the previous two seasons with the Houston Rockets, Averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists While shooting 50.7% from the field and 38.4% from outside the arc. The 27-year-old Long Beach player scored 131 three-pointers last season. When Wood leaves the point and goes to the ocean to shoot, he brings his cannon with him, creating more lanes. James and Davis need a big guy to do that because the Lakers are one of the worst three-pointing teams in the league.

On opening night against the Golden State Warriors, the Violet and Gold fired 25.0% as a team outside the arc. The Warriors loaded paint against the Lakers, preventing James and Davis from attacking the Edge.

Speaking of shooting, Hardaway Jr. is a Career 35.8% shooter from the depths. He scored 207 shots from 3-point ground during the 2020-21 season. Hardaway Jr. struggled with injuries last season, so he only played in 42 games. However, the guard is healthy again.

The Lakers could start Kendrick Noone, Hardaway Jr., James, Davis, Wood if they trade Westbrook for Mavericks for Wood, Hardaway Jr. , and Green and Ntilikina. These are three bowlers (Noun, Hardaway, Jr., Wood) around James and Davis in the starting unit. LeBron will also face two deadly threats at Davis and Wood for throwing the ball when the paint comes off.

The Lakers should move to Westbrook

The Lakers lost to the Warriors 123-109. Westbrook played 31 minutes and finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four turns, while shooting 7 of 12 from the field, 1 of 3 from outside the arc and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. The nine-time All-Star had a plus-minus -6.

Westbrook didn’t play badly against the Warriors. However, he still had a bad heart attack on the side of James and Davis due to his inability to shoot the ball and his penchant for turning the rock.

The Lakers need more bowlers around James, Davis, Wood and Hardaway Jr. General Manager Rob Pelinka needs to stop wasting time and get the Westbrook deal done before any more of James’ talent is wasted. LeBron will turn 38 in December and King is still playing at an elite level, but the players around him and Davis just don’t make any sense.

Only four players (James, Davis, Westbrook, Noun) scored in the Lakers’ double figures against the Warriors. The team scored 10 three-pointers in 40 attempts.