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Top 3 Russell Westbrook trade ideas for this offseason

By Jack Simone

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Russell Westbrook trade ideas
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 16: Mike Conley #11 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California, Top 3 Russell Westbrook trade ideas for this offseason. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

Top 3 Russell Westbrook trade ideas for this offseason: 2. Utah Jazz

Jazz receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First-Round Pick

Lakers receive: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Juancho Hernangomez

Okay, hear me out.

This is by far the most ridiculous, unrealistic, never-going-to-happen-in-a-million-years trade. And in all honesty, it has about an 85 percent chance to blow up in Utah’s face. It’s admittedly bad. But what if…?

It’s become clear that this iteration of the Utah Jazz isn’t working. And if they end up losing in the first two rounds of the playoffs again this year, that would cement it.

So why not try something crazy for one, last-ditch effort to win with the core of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert? Why not bring in Russell Westbrook to run the offense?

Again, this sounds completely crazy, but what if it’s not? Just ago Westbrook averaged a triple-double and seemingly single-handedly dragged a lackluster Washington Wizards team to the playoffs.

One of the main reasons things didn’t work out in Los Angeles was because so many people needed the ball in their hands. But in Utah, Westbrook would be able to be the unquestioned primary ball-handler.

He could set up plays for Donovan Mitchell and make Rudy Gobert a more effective offensive player. You saw what he did for Steven Adams during their time in Oklahoma City. Who’s to say he can’t do the same thing for Gobert?

And the best part about all of this is that if it doesn’t work, the Jazz are free to start their rebuild next offseason. With Westbrook off the books and Talen Horton-Tucker on the roster (and the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick), they could trade both Mitchell and Gobert.

Again, this is a crazy idea and has no chance of happening, but the Jazz should be willing to try anything at this point. Why not give Westbrook a shot?

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