Report: Jazz, Lakers Expected To Resume Westbrook Trade Talks
Oct 24, 2022, 3:57 PM
Mike Conley of the Utah Jazz drives against LeBron James and Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz are expected to reengage in trade talks surrounding Russell Westbrook according to a new report.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote about the potential for the Jazz and the Lakers to reopen negotiations after rumors swirled surrounding Westbrook during the offseason.
“League sources say that before the Jazz sent Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pistons, the Lakers offered Westbrook, a future first-round pick, and second-rounders for Bogdanovic and others,” O’Connor wrote. “Sources expect the Lakers and Jazz to resume talks later in the season with some combination of other players discussed.”
Russell Westbrook jumpers have been contested only 41.2% of the time.@SecondSpectrum says it’s the lowest contest rate in NBA tracking data history (since 2013). Over a full season only Andre Roberson and Joakim Noah were below 50%.
More on the Lakers: https://t.co/Tyqf0PeTFt
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 24, 2022
Westbrook is off to a disastrous start for the Lakers averaging a career-low 10.3 points while shooting 28 percent from the floor and 8.3 percent from the three-point line.
The Jazz could send a combination of several players to the Lakers to make salaries match, but would likely want significant draft compensation back in the deal.
Mike Conley has yet to shoot the ball well for the Jazz this season but is averaging 9.0 assists per game, and as a career 38 percent three-point shooter, should expect his averages to climb in the coming weeks.
Rudy Gay has had a resurgent start to season averaging 7.7 points while shooting a healthy 45 percent from the three-point line.
Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson have each been mentioned as targets for the Lakers in trade talks and have shown they have plenty to offer so far this season.
Breaking: The @utahjazz are reportedly trading Patrick Beverley to the @Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. #TakeNote https://t.co/waX0qIJNwf
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 25, 2022
The Lakers have gotten off to a miserable start to the season dropping their first three games of the year while shooting a league-worst 21 percent from the three-point line.
The Jazz and Lakers already completed one trade this offseason sending Patrick Beverley to Los Angeles for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson.
Beverley hasn’t helped the Lakers shooting woes connecting on just 21 percent of his three-point attempts.
The Lakers can only include their 2027 and 2029 draft picks in trades this season.
