4 big trade targets the Bulls must avoid at the deadline
Trade deadline targets the Chicago Bulls must avoid: Russell Westbrook
It’s really hard to tell what the Los Angeles Lakers’ plans are for the trade deadline next month. While it’s hard to see the Lakers becoming sellers at the trade deadline, they don’t have that many trade chips to work with to be aggressive buyers either. The Lakers would have to dig deep in their bag of future draft capital to play the role of an aggressive buyer at the trade deadline.
One interesting player to watch for the Lakers at the trade deadline is the 2016-17 NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star selection Russell Westbrook. This veteran 33-year-old point guard and former UCLA Bruins star did not have the best start to his first season with the Lakers. And that has led to some trade speculation with him and the Lakers as we approach the Feb. 10 deadline.
While it won’t be easy for the Lakers to dish out Westbrook’s giant contract, it isn’t the worst to take on either. Once this season concludes, Russ will only have one year remaining on his current contract if he picks up his looming player option next offseason.
There’s just no foreseeable way for the Bulls to actually get Russ from the Lakers. Even if the money did work between these two teams at the deadline, it would be difficult to find where Russ fits in this rotation.
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If the Lakers do find a decent trade market for Russ, some potential landing spots to watch for him include the Houston Rockets, Cavaliers, and even the Sixers if Philly is willing to put Simmons into the trade discussions. Yet, Russ likely would have the thinnest market at the trade deadline of the four big names to watch on the trade block on this list.