Lakers Make Decision Not To Trade Russell Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to find their groove this season. LeBron James has said the team completely lacks chemistry. Trade rumors have hounded Russell Westbrook as the team mulled several deals to move the point guard.

Fans in Los Angeles were convinced that the team was trying to trade Westbrook. It was reported that the team was actively listening to offers in December. Proposed trade packages flew through the rumor mill.

The Russell Westbrook trade seemed like a foregone conclusion. It turns out that the team has made their final decision. The Lakers will stick it out with Russ for the remainder of this season, according to NBA reporter Mark Stein.

“A trade with the Houston Rockets to ship out Russell Westbrook is on the proverbial table for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, though, appear determined to stick with Westbrook through at least the rest of the season — which means holding onto their 2027 first-round draft pick for other potential trade opportunities.

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League sources say that the Lakers, presented with an unexpected pathway to abort their Westbrook experiment by trading the NBA’s 2017 Most Valuable Player back to the Rockets in exchange for former All-Star John Wall, are unwilling to attach the 2027 first-rounder to make the deal happen.

As reported here Friday, Houston’s interest in such a trade is dependent on the Lakers’ consenting to ensure that the deal is ‘incentivized’ by packaging the draft pick with Westbrook in exchange for Wall.”

The John Wall for Russell Westbrook deal apparently isn’t happening. Los Angeles is content to stick with what they have and aren’t willing to give up a valuable future draft pick. We’ll see if the move pays off for the struggling Lakers.

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