Some may become available that aren't right now."Īn NBA source also took a relatively conservative approach. "Teams are more realistic on where they stand at that point. That's a lot less money for an owner to spend on," the agent said. "He'll become easier to trade closer to the deadline. Meanwhile, an NBA agent suggested the Lakers should be patient in trading Westbrook. "Even if that saved the Nets a ton of money and Indiana got two firsts out of it, do they agree to work together to help LeBron and the Lakers contend?" "Maybe if they could combine the Nets and Pacers into one trade, bring back Kyrie, Turner and Buddy, that'd be worth giving up a couple of firsts," the executive continued. "That's probably worth one protected first, but certainly not two." "What do Buddy and Turner do for the Lakers? Add a 5 percent chance the team wins a title?" an NBA executive said. An Indiana package may offer more depth, but is it enough? That may or may not be true considering that Davis hasn't been consistently healthy, and the Boston Celtics might be able to trump a Lakers offer with Jaylen Brown as a centerpiece. KD for AD and a pick is as close as will get to what they want." But I'd take him over the pie-in-the-sky-let-Russ-cook option."Īn NBA insider had a different (and broader) take on Irving and the Nets. "I'd do those two picks for Buddy and Turner. "The Lakers are pot-committed," the analyst continued, referencing a poker situation where a player lacks leverage after making aggressive early bets. Should the Lakers really be giving out unprotected or lightly protected first-round picks in 20, years after the contracts of LeBron James and Anthony Davis expire? Is Irving-the most talented of the names mentioned-reliable enough for L.A. I'd do as many picks as needed to make a deal happen, as long as they have top-10 protection." "The ones I've heard for Kyrie with a shooter or Turner and Buddy seem unrealistic, but they should go for it.
"First, I'd swing for the fences in a trade," an NBA media analyst said. As things currently stand, there's no deal to be had, though there's still plenty of time for that to change before the start of the season. has talked to teams like the Brooklyn Nets about Kyrie Irving and the Indiana Pacers for a combination of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. So far, they haven't found a viable solution. Trade Westbrook? At What Cost, and for Whom?Īhead of February's trade deadline, the Lakers were looking to find Westbrook a new home.