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“Stepped Up His Game After Being Dragged Through the Mud”: After Confirmed Reunion With Ex Teammate, Russell Westbrook Trade Woes Loom Over Lakers Fans

Published 01/24/2023, 4:32 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The trade deadline is only about two weeks away and the Los Angeles Lakers are yet to make a move. Given the average performance put up by the Lakers to date, fans have been demanding a blockbuster trade that could strengthen their roster. The probability of any such deal taking place lessened when it was reported that owner Jeanie Buss was not keen about trading their two future first-picks away. However, according to new reports, this might not be the case anymore.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in one of their worst seasons. They have won no more than 22 games out of the 47 played to date. This has dropped them to the 12th position in the Western Conference with little to no chance of making it to the playoffs.

The Lakers might trade Russell Westbrook

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One of the most talked about ideal trade deals for the Los Angeles Lakers involved Russell Westbrook. However, the Lakers needed to include more in the package if they wanted to build a stronger roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This meant that they would need to include their 2027 and 2029 first-round pick, something that Jeanie Buss was reportedly not on board with. Although, now it seems like the Lakers have come up with a different deal that might not include the first-round picks.

According to LJ Ellis of SpursTalk, an insider from the Lakers has revealed that the Russell Westbrook trade discussions are still on-going. The team is reportedly in talks with the San Antonio Spurs regarding available trade deals and it includes possibly acquiring Jakob Poeltl, Josh Richardson, and Doug McDermott.

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“Those talks have been on the back burner for a couple months but I’ve been told that both the Lakers and Spurs remain open to the possibility depending on how the next two weeks play out prior to the trade deadline,” informed Ellis.

Since the news was reported, NBA fans have been debating over the trade deal due to a clash of opinions. While some felt that trading Russ would benefit the team, others believed that he could still be a great asset on the roster. Below are a few of the tweets.

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Jeanie Buss will not give up their future picks

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is not on board with trading their two future first-round picks and fans are not happy about it. There is no doubt that the Lakers need to rebuild their roster if they want to have a fighting chance of making it to the playoffs or have a smoother run the next season. But a Western Conference executive has revealed that Buss is more focused on the Lakers’ future rather than the present.

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“You’ve got a lot of the organization saying, ‘We should trade picks and win now,’ but some in the organization are saying, ‘Do not sell out the future.’ And Jeanie Buss is with the second group, and that is what matters most,” the executive shared.

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Written by:

Siyari Debbarma

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Siyari Debbarma is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering from Abascus Institute of Engineering and Management. She previously interned at the Y-East Organization as a content writer.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra