The Los Angeles Lakers should be active in the weeks leading up to the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Amidst a 24-24 start to the 2021-22 season, LA desperately needs to shake things up if they want to flip the switch and make a run at another championship this year.
It appears that the front office understands this, as the Lakers have been mentioned in countless rumors over the past several months. However, the biggest problem they face is that they do not have many assets to trade before the deadline, leaving this team with their hands tied as they try to improve.
Nevertheless, that does not mean all hope is lost for the purple and gold. There are some deals that could still get done with what the Lakers have to work with. With that being said, here are three NBA trades to help turn LA’s 2021-22 season around.
*All stats valid as of the morning of January 27
NBA Trades: 3 trades to save the Los Angeles Lakers season – John Wall
Los Angeles Lakers receive: John Wall, Eric Gordon
Houston Rockets receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First Round Pick
There have been murmurs that the Lakers may look to move on from Russell Westbrook before the trade deadline, but it never seemed like there would be too many teams interested in taking him in.
However, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required) reported recently that the Houston Rockets could be open to taking on Westbrook’s hefty contract if they are compensated with sufficient draft picks. With that thought in mind, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor proposed a deal that would see several household names on the move, which is the one above.
Swapping Wall for Westbrook may seem like a linear move for the Lakers, particularly as the two will make a near-identical amount of money over the next two seasons.
However, Wall may be a more ideal fit for LA as he could adjust to playing that third-star role behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis better than Westbrook has been. Wall remains an unknown enigma in this situation as he has not played a game this season, but it is interesting to hear that Houston could be willing to send him out for Westbrook.
The true sweetener in this trade might be the addition of Eric Gordon alongside Wall. Gordon has been stellar for the Rockets this season by averaging 14.6 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor and a red-hot 44.5 percent from three-point range.
Scoring and shooting like that are what the Lakers need right now, and the former Sixth Man of the Year could make a massive difference for the purple and gold.
While the Lakers would likely be fine trading away Westbrook, they might be hesitant when it comes to moving Talen Horton-Tucker and that first-round pick. It is no secret how highly the Lakers have valued THT over these past few seasons, with the team opting not to trade for a former All-Star in Kyle Lowry last season due to their unwillingness to include Horton-Tucker.
That has proven to be a huge mistake thus far, as the young guard has not lived up to expectations. Perhaps the Lakers could look to right the ship by moving him this time around.
Losing one of their few first-round picks would sting, but it would make sense in a blockbuster deal like this one if it means helping the team win now.