LA Lakers Trade Rumors: Russell Westbrook is still tradeable piece for Lakers

The LA Lakers are still looking for moves to improve their team. While they don't have many tradeable pieces, there is one player, they could still move in Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has played better in the past few weeks, but still isn't exactly what the Lakers need.

At this point, trading Russell Westbrook might not even get the Lakers the return they're looking for. LA has two first-round picks, but an NBA executive says that they haven't traded these picks just yet, and that could be telling.

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“They have come this far without trading the two picks (in 2027 and 2029) away, and it is going to be very hard to move Westbrook without putting one of those picks into the deal. 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 said

In terms of trading Russell Westbrook, there is a chance that they could move him for a guy like Tim Hardaway Jr., but again, that doesn't move the needle too much for the Lakers.

“Russ has played well for them, and they’re looking for a way to make a deal without giving up picks, which is going to involve taking on a longer contract, like a Tim Hardaway Jr. from Dallas or someone like that. They have talked about Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose, too, which might be as good a deal as they’re going to get,” The executive said.

Russell Westbrook could be playing his final game in a Lakers jersey in the coming days. This could be something to keep an eye on if Buss is willing to trade the Lakers' future first-round picks.