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The Los Angeles Lakers are in trade talks for both Russell Westbrook and Buddy Hield. Can they actually trade for both?
To the surprise of nobody, the NBA was filled with news in the hours leading up to the 2021 NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns, seemingly were in the midst of a trade to acquire Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojanrowski. But minutes later, a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed that the Lakers were also near a deal with the Washington Wizards for guard Russell Westbrook.
Even though both deals do include Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell, we guarantee that some Lakers fans are wondering if the team can still get both Hield and Westbrook. We are happy to provide that answer for you.
Can the Lakers trade for Russell Westbrook and Buddy Hield?
As much as the Lakers faithful would love to see Hield and Westbrook join LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season for a run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it simply is not financially feasible.
Westbrook is entering the fourth year of his five-year, $206.8 million contract and is due $44.2 million next season. Hield, on the other hand, is entering the second season of his four-year, $94 million deal where he is set to earn a base salary of $22.5 million. Add that to the salaries of James and Davis, and all four would account for $143.7 million next season. There is literally no way that the Lakers can afford to fill out their roster with that much money going to four players, especially having to trade for two of them.
Either way, the Lakers landing one of these guards should be considered a massive win for them. On paper, Los Angeles looked as though they were going to make a serious run for a second-consecutive NBA title this past season, but that did not come to fruition. Adding either Westbrook or Hield will help the Lakers leap up the Western Conference power rankings entering next season.