NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades

Los Angeles </a>Lakers abruptly traded for Russell Westbrook during the 2021 offseason, the decision spawned many questions.</p> <p>The biggest uncertainty revolved around Westbrook’s fit with LA’s other pieces.</p> <p>Could the former MVP winner adapt to playing with other stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis? How would a ball-dominant player like Westbrook feel about his touches going down? Would Westbrook’s lack of an outside shot be detrimental?</p> <p>Some were justifiably worried about the deal at the time, while others were willing to give it a try and let Westbrook play with James and Davis before sharing their thoughts.</p> <p>After 47 games, the fit has not panned out as the Lakers had hoped. They currently sit at eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 23-24 record. To be fair, some of their lousy record can be attributed to injuries, as both James and Davis have missed time this season.</p> <p>However, Westbrook’s struggles have hindered the team as well as he is currently in a battle with James Harden for the league leader in turnovers, with the two swapping places nightly. He is also having another poor shooting season and has simply failed to gel with this team whatsoever.</p> <p>With the Lakers struggling, it appears they might look to call the Westbrook experiment a failure and pursue a different point guard before the upcoming trade deadline.</p> <h2>NBA Trades: John Wall has frequently been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers as a potential trade target to move Russell Westbrook</h2> <p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/22/nba-rumors-rockets-lakers-russell-westbrook-john-wall/">Rumors have been swirling</a> for weeks that the Lakers may look to move Westbrook before the February 10 trade deadline, but no one could blame teams for staying away.</p> <p>The guard is on the books for a monstrous $44.2 million this season and $47 million next season, given he accepts his player option, and no team wants to take on that amount of money for a player struggling like this. At least, that is what everyone previously thought.</p> <p>According to long-time NBA insider Marc Stein <strong>(subscription required)</strong>, the Houston Rockets may <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-plausibility-of-trading-russell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have interest in trading for Westbrook</a> if they can get sufficient draft capital as well. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/24/nba-trades-john-wall-lakers/">In that deal</a>, the Rockets would send back John Wall, who makes nearly identical money to Westbrook and may possibly be someone the Lakers see as an upgrade in the backcourt.</p> <p>Westbrook and Wall have been traded for each other before in a deal between the Rockets and the Washington Wizards before last season, and it would be interesting to see them get dealt for one another once again. With that said, let us take a look at two blockbuster NBA trades that would see the Lakers acquire Wall for Westbrook.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade #1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_441107" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-441107 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1301819128.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301819128.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301819128-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on February 09, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades – Trade #1</h2> <p><strong>Los Angeles Lakers receive: John Wall</strong></p> <p><strong>Houston Rockets receive: Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick</strong></p> <p>Mostly for financial reasons, this is the most logical trade that could occur between the Lakers and Rockets for their point guards. As previously mentioned, they make a near-identical amount, so a swap for the two straight up does work financially, but Houston wants draft capital attached.</p> <p>LA is short on assets at the moment, but they could offer their first-rounder in 2027 in any deal. This could be a fitting proposal for both sides.</p> <p>For the Lakers, it would sting to lose that first-round pick considering how depleted their stash of assets already is, but Wall could be an interesting player to acquire for it. Although he has been hit with the injury bug over the past few seasons, Wall showed last year that he could still perform at the NBA level.</p> <p>In 40 games with Houston, he averaged 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He has not played this season, as Houston continues to prioritize their youth, but Wall could be an interesting third fiddle to place alongside James and Davis if they are determined to move on from Westbrook.</p> <p>From Houston’s perspective, this is all about getting that draft pick, as they reportedly have little to no interest in keeping Westbrook in this scenario. As noted in a separate reporting from Stein <strong>(subscription required)</strong>,<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://marcstein.substack.com/p/latest-from-the-trade-and-embiid?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjkxNTY4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjo0NzYwNDgyOSwiXyI6ImFMaU5TIiwiaWF0IjoxNjQzMDQ2MzE1LCJleHAiOjE2NDMwNDk5MTUsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0zOTIyMDUiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.Yk8m2-o3RGDr-PucElaeaCzoYAXOU2ZrnBUlCiOvDAs%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener"> it is expected that the Rockets would look to buy Westbrook out</a> if they did trade for him, which would make sense for both parties.</p> <p>With a promising young backcourt already on the roster in Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, the Rockets do not need a player like Westbrook to take touches away from them. A buyout would allow the former MVP to play elsewhere.</p> <p>This is the likeliest deal for the two sides.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade No. 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_420952" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-420952 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1294205935-1.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294205935-1.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294205935-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 02: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets celebrates a play with John Wall #1 during the fourth quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center on January 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas, NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>NBA Trades: 2 blockbuster Russell Westbrook for John Wall trades – Trade #2</h2> <p><strong>Los Angeles Lakers receive: John Wall, Eric Gordon</strong></p> <p><strong>Houston Rockets receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First-Round Pick</strong></p> <p>This trade would undoubtedly turn some heads if it went down. The deal was proposed by NBA writer Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, and it <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/1/24/22898436/lakers-russell-westbrook-rumors-frank-vogel-all-star" target="_blank" rel="noopener">involves adding Eric Gordon and Talen Horton-Tucker</a> to the previous trade package. Both teams could see this scenario as more desirable than the first.</p> <p>The Lakers nabbing Gordon on top of Wall would be a no-brainer. The former Sixth Man of the Year winner is having a stellar season by averaging 14.8 points per game while shooting a career-high 50.6 percent from the floor and a scorching-hot 45.2 percent from three.</p> <p>Instant offense like that could provide a significant boost for the Lakers, particularly due to Gordon’s outside shooting. He has been one of the hottest commodities on the trade market, and adding him would make LA more formidable on impact.</p> <p>However, it would cost them quite a bit and add a hefty amount to their current luxury tax bill, given Gordon’s $18.2 million salary for this season. Yet, if they are willing to push all their chips in, it is worth considering for the Lakers.</p> <p>The Rockets might consider this trade because Gordon has been in the rumor mill for years now, and a young piece like Horton-Tucker could be enticing in return. Although he has struggled with the Lakers this season, a new environment with a team prioritizing youth like Houston could be just what the 21-year-old needs to unlock his true potential.</p> <p>The Rockets could drop him in with the young core of Porter, Green, and the rest of this young team as they rebuild. Tucker is in the first year of a three-year contract extension worth $30 million, which could become a bargain if the third-year guard lives up to his potential.</p> <p>This one would shock the league without question.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="5 rumored Los Angeles Lakers trade targets" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/22/nba-trades-los-angeles-lakers/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/25/nba-trades-russell-westbrook-john-wall/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/22/nba-trades-los-angeles-lakers/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 5 rumored Los Angeles Lakers trade targets </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">