Lakers were close to trading the star to the Pacers before training camp.

 

The biggest question hanging over every laker story all summer was the sitcom-level of “will they, won’t they” going on regarding their efforts to trade Russell Westbrook. And, with the season just over two weeks away and Westbrook currently participating in training camp, it appears that a trade (possibly to the Indiana Pacers) is still very much on the table.

 

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, and Sam Amick of The Athletic published the most recent anonymously sourced update on the situation, and the most critical part is in bold:

 

While Westbrook was not traded this summer, as many expected, league sources tell The Athletic that the possibility of him being traded in the coming weeks and months remains. In an ideal world, Westbrook would hit his stride with the Lakers, the team would perform admirably, wins would follow, and the franchise would finally demonstrate its short- and long-term potential. However, whether or not he is traded would be determined by several factors, not the least of which are his performance and willingness to stick to the plan laid out by first-year coach Darvin Ham.

 

However, further down in their story ($$$), Charania, Buha, and Amick detailed how talks with the Pacers have gone so far and confirmed that the much-discussed canceled press conference from Pelinka and Ham was in part due to the team considering the Pacers package on the eve of camp:

 

According to sources, vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss, and senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis; seriously considered trading Westbrook and unprotected first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. with the Pacers; in exchange for center Myles Turner and guard Buddy Hield. They held a sequence of meetings in the days leading up to camp to analyze the potential Pacers deal from every angle, including Ham’s and the Lakers’ perspectives.

 

However, further down in their story ($$$), Charania, Buha, and Amick detailed how talks with the Pacers have gone so far and confirmed that the much-discussed canceled press conference from Pelinka and Ham was in part due to the team considering the Pacers package on the eve of camp:

 

sources claim that senior basketball advisor Kurt Rambis, general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss, and vice president of basketball operations Russell Westbrook; all considered trading with the Pacers for guard Buddy Hield and center Myles Turner; in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 2027 and 2029. 

 

They held a sequence of meetings in the days leading up to camp to analyze the potential Pacers deal from every angle, with Ham’s and Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss’ opinions also being heavily considered. The organization even postponed Pelinka and Ham’s midweek news conference as the debate raged.

 

This article also provided the most detailed account of where the Lakers and Pacers stood as negotiations continued. Let’s get into it later.

 

What trades have the Lakers and Pacers talked about?

 

  • The Athletic reports that Indiana and Los Angeles have discussed the following deals over the summer.

  • Turner received Westbrook and one first-round pick (unspecified year).

  • A non-specific deal in which the Lakers would have received only Hield and not Turner. It is uncertain what the Lakers would have given up in this hypothetical deal.

  • Following the conclusion of summer league (and the Pacers’ unsuccessful pursuit of Deandre Ayton), the two sides “discussed Westbrook, one first-round pick, and second-round compensation for both Turner and Hield.”

  • Permutations of the deal in which the Memphis Grizzlies would have received a Lakers first-round pick in exchange for sending Indiana two of their own first-round choices as part of a three-team trade. Again, it is unclear what the Lakers and Pacers would have received otherwise, only that they attempted to expand the deal to find a version on which everyone could agree. So far, it does not arise to have worked.

 

So, why hasn’t a deal been reached?

Anyone who has seen footage from training camp knows that none of those discussions have taken place. According to the same story from The Athletic (emphasis mine), the reason for the ongoing impasse appears to be simple:

 

Every conversation with the Lakers resulted in the Pacers’ ultimate demand: both of L.A.’s available first-round picks — or no deal.

 

Pacers owner Herb Simon expressed increasing interest in having new lead guard Tyrese Haliburton, Turner, and Hield start the season together as the summer progressed. Hence, an asking price of two unprotected first-round picks was unintentionally a brutal barometer to meet. Would the Lakers be able to complete it? According to sources, despite the Lakers’ wishes, the Pacers clarified that they were not interested in sending second-round picks in a potential trade. With the cost of acquiring Turner and Hield being too high for the Lakers, they hoped for second-round compensation to increase their return.

 

This is the first report that the Lakers attempted to recoup some draft value in these talks by asking for second-round picks in exchange for including both firsts. At the very least, it all indicates that they are genuinely trying to find a viable trade option.

 

Concerning the rest of this, it’s unclear whether the team can reach a deal before the season begins. The Lakers may still trade Westbrook before the season starts, according to The Athletic, but most of the talks they’re reporting on occurred before training camp.

 

Given that Zach Lowe of ESPN stated last Friday that the Lakers don’t currently have any “deep” trade negotiations going, it may not matter if the executive committee is still considering a Russ trade, if they’re genuinely open to moving both selections, or if they’re prepared to take on long-term money because none of this matters if they are still at a standstill with Indiana over whether they believe Hield and Turner are worth two firsts, and whether or not the Pacers will

 

 

Of course, until an agreement is reached, both parties state it in a public negotiation, but I digress. Over the coming weeks, we’ll observe who blinks first and if anyone blinks. Hold on.

 

Trade & Rumors

 
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Lakers were close to trading the star to the Pacers before training camp.

 

The biggest question hanging over every laker story all summer was the sitcom-level of “will they, won’t they” going on regarding their efforts to trade Russell Westbrook. And, with the season just over two weeks away and Westbrook currently participating in training camp, it appears that a trade (possibly to the Indiana Pacers) is still very much on the table.

 

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, and Sam Amick of The Athletic published the most recent anonymously sourced update on the situation, and the most critical part is in bold:

 

While Westbrook was not traded this summer, as many expected, league sources tell The Athletic that the possibility of him being traded in the coming weeks and months remains. In an ideal world, Westbrook would hit his stride with the Lakers, the team would perform admirably, wins would follow, and the franchise would finally demonstrate its short- and long-term potential. However, whether or not he is traded would be determined by several factors, not the least of which are his performance and willingness to stick to the plan laid out by first-year coach Darvin Ham.

 

However, further down in their story ($$$), Charania, Buha, and Amick detailed how talks with the Pacers have gone so far and confirmed that the much-discussed canceled press conference from Pelinka and Ham was in part due to the team considering the Pacers package on the eve of camp:

 

According to sources, vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss, and senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis; seriously considered trading Westbrook and unprotected first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. with the Pacers; in exchange for center Myles Turner and guard Buddy Hield. They held a sequence of meetings in the days leading up to camp to analyze the potential Pacers deal from every angle, including Ham’s and the Lakers’ perspectives.

 

However, further down in their story ($$$), Charania, Buha, and Amick detailed how talks with the Pacers have gone so far and confirmed that the much-discussed canceled press conference from Pelinka and Ham was in part due to the team considering the Pacers package on the eve of camp:

 

sources claim that senior basketball advisor Kurt Rambis, general manager Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss, and vice president of basketball operations Russell Westbrook; all considered trading with the Pacers for guard Buddy Hield and center Myles Turner; in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 2027 and 2029. 

 

They held a sequence of meetings in the days leading up to camp to analyze the potential Pacers deal from every angle, with Ham’s and Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss’ opinions also being heavily considered. The organization even postponed Pelinka and Ham’s midweek news conference as the debate raged.

 

This article also provided the most detailed account of where the Lakers and Pacers stood as negotiations continued. Let’s get into it later.

 

What trades have the Lakers and Pacers talked about?

 

  • The Athletic reports that Indiana and Los Angeles have discussed the following deals over the summer.
  • Turner received Westbrook and one first-round pick (unspecified year).
  • A non-specific deal in which the Lakers would have received only Hield and not Turner. It is uncertain what the Lakers would have given up in this hypothetical deal.
  • Following the conclusion of summer league (and the Pacers’ unsuccessful pursuit of Deandre Ayton), the two sides “discussed Westbrook, one first-round pick, and second-round compensation for both Turner and Hield.”
  • Permutations of the deal in which the Memphis Grizzlies would have received a Lakers first-round pick in exchange for sending Indiana two of their own first-round choices as part of a three-team trade. Again, it is unclear what the Lakers and Pacers would have received otherwise, only that they attempted to expand the deal to find a version on which everyone could agree. So far, it does not arise to have worked.

 

So, why hasn’t a deal been reached?

Anyone who has seen footage from training camp knows that none of those discussions have taken place. According to the same story from The Athletic (emphasis mine), the reason for the ongoing impasse appears to be simple:

 

Every conversation with the Lakers resulted in the Pacers’ ultimate demand: both of L.A.’s available first-round picks — or no deal.

 

Pacers owner Herb Simon expressed increasing interest in having new lead guard Tyrese Haliburton, Turner, and Hield start the season together as the summer progressed. Hence, an asking price of two unprotected first-round picks was unintentionally a brutal barometer to meet. Would the Lakers be able to complete it? According to sources, despite the Lakers’ wishes, the Pacers clarified that they were not interested in sending second-round picks in a potential trade. With the cost of acquiring Turner and Hield being too high for the Lakers, they hoped for second-round compensation to increase their return.

 

This is the first report that the Lakers attempted to recoup some draft value in these talks by asking for second-round picks in exchange for including both firsts. At the very least, it all indicates that they are genuinely trying to find a viable trade option.

 

Concerning the rest of this, it’s unclear whether the team can reach a deal before the season begins. The Lakers may still trade Westbrook before the season starts, according to The Athletic, but most of the talks they’re reporting on occurred before training camp.

 

Given that Zach Lowe of ESPN stated last Friday that the Lakers don’t currently have any “deep” trade negotiations going, it may not matter if the executive committee is still considering a Russ trade, if they’re genuinely open to moving both selections, or if they’re prepared to take on long-term money because none of this matters if they are still at a standstill with Indiana over whether they believe Hield and Turner are worth two firsts, and whether or not the Pacers will

 

 

Of course, until an agreement is reached, both parties state it in a public negotiation, but I digress. Over the coming weeks, we’ll observe who blinks first and if anyone blinks. Hold on.

 

Trade & Rumors
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  • bank transferwise
  • legal betting license
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