4 trades the Lakers can make after Rob Pelinka reveals all bets are off

Hornets embrace the future by taking a year off, Lakers add two-way firepower.

Of the trades mentioned here, this is by far the most circumstantial. It’s a bet on the idea that Charlotte will come to grips with its own fate early into the season and decide that it’s time to embrace retooling instead of getting stuck between a rock and a hard place. This team was already but a fringe Play-In contender before losing Miles Bridges and Montrezl Harrell. Without them, Charlotte is better off leaning into the future by sacrificing the present.

By dealing two starters for Westbrook and two first-rounders, the Charlotte Hornets would be making a firm commitment to their future. Though his reputation among fans is tarnished, the former MVP is still in good standing with most players and is a legend in his own right. It’d be a fun opportunity to see Hornets star LaMelo Ball team up with Westbrook, bringing a flair and swagger that would entice fans to buy tickets while still contending for lottery odds.

With Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward, the Lakers add shooting, unselfishness and players who simply know how to compete at a high level. They simultaneously raise the team’s floor and ceiling as two individuals who can play on or off the ball while still making their presence felt. Rozier can recommit himself to defense a bit more after exploding as a scorer in recent years as Hayward offers creation that’s hard to come by at the small forward position.

Some trades are meant to improve a team’s chance at making the Playoffs, but for the Lakers, this trade puts them in the conversation of contenders. That’s hard to do coming off a year when you missed the postseason entirely.