Lakers’ Early Start to 2022-23 Season Could Lead to Exits for Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker

The Los Angeles Lakers will hold their second pre-draft workout this year on Saturday. Collin Gillespie of Villanova and Keon Ellis of Alabama are amongst the six players set to take part in the workout.

However, the Lakers don’t have any draft picks in the 2022 draft next month. Therefore, this news has once again fueled Russell Westbrook’s trade rumors.

The general verdict of fans and the media has been to scapegoat Westbrook as the antagonist of the Lakers’ debacle this season. The 6’3″ point guard’s performance this year is no strong evidence against such an opinion.

In fact, the ball-dominant guard failed to gel in a team that is chiefly reliant on LeBron James for dimes. Moreover, his exorbitant salary affects the Lakers’ cap flexibility and their ability to put a good supporting cast around the stars.

Lakers could trade Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker trade

The Lakers are in a difficult spot with Russell Westbrook right now. The 33-year-old guard has a player option of $47.1 million in his contract, which he can opt-out of, to become an unrestricted free agent.

But chances are he will not do that. In that case, the Lakers could either buy in his contract or trade him. Because after this season’s disaster, keeping him on the roster would be unwise.

According to reports, teams are unwilling to pay so much money for Westbrook‘s remaining contract without a first-round pick. Therefore, the Lakers are reluctant to proceed with the trade.

But they could get a better offer by including Talen Horton-Tucker in the trade. The 21-year shooting guard has averaged just 9.9 points per game this season.

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But his breakout performance in the Lakers’ 2020 championship win could save the Lakers a first-round draft pick.

Lakers and their second-round draft picks

The Lakers have been very efficient with their late-round draft picks in recent years. This displays the labor put in by their scouting department.

Some of the Lakers’ second-round picks in the last few years include Talen Horton-Tucker, Ivica Zubac and 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson. Additionally, they bagged undrafted Austin Reaves, and Kyle Kuzma in the late stages of the first round.

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So, the Lakers will look forward to pulling off a decent second-round pick once again. If they play their cards right in trading Russell Westbrook.