LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

It is pretty obvious that the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to trade Russell Westbrook before the 2022-23 season begins. That has been the narrative all offseason and the speculation has only heated up as the season has gotten closer and closer.

Westbrook does not have any value at all in a trade and the Lakers are likely going to have to attach two future first-round picks to move him. As it stands right now, with nearly every NBA team settled for next season, there are only two possible routes for the Lakers to take.

There is a deal with the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz that is centered around a Donovan Mitchell blockbuster and there is a deal with the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. The Lakers may have already blown their chance at that trade, but we will see.

As the old saying goes, beggars cannot be choosers and despite the Lakers not being in a place of leverage, they are still trying to be picky about what they get in return. It doesn’t even seem to be about the type of players they get in return, either. Instead, it appears that Los Angeles is only trying to get back expiring contracts for Westbrook to keep the cap open for a certain someone.

The “belief” is that the #Lakers are trying to keep as much cap space available next summer for Kyrie Irving when he becomes a free agent.

LA will “try” their best in any trade to not take back any long-term salary past this year.

(via @MikeAScotto on @LateNightLakers Spaces)

— 🦉 Lakers Vino (@VinoUncorked) September 1, 2022

The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to trade for Kyrie Irving this offseason and yet the team is still fixated on him. While there might be mutual interest there, Los Angeles tailoring their moves this season (when they are the desperate team, let’s not forget) for Irving is quite absurd.

First of all, the Lakers still won’t have enough money to bring Kyrie in on a max deal. Even after moving Talen Horton-Tucker to free up money, Los Angeles does not have enough to max out Kyrie, which in upon itself will be a turn-off for Irving.

Let’s say Irving takes a pay cut and signs for all of the Lakers’ remaining cap space. Cool. What’s next? The team will be in the same situation it is in with Russell Westbrook where it cannot spend on any type of depth. Trading for one year of Kyrie Irving is one thing. Hitching your wagon to multiple years of the Kyrie Irving experience is another.

It might be just fine right away but if you think this Westbrook saga is bad just wait until Irving gets older and is still making over $30 million a season. It will be Russell Westbrook all over again.

Plus, we know Irving is a man who changes his mind and can’t really be relied upon. Are the Lakers going to potentially pass on the most talented return they can get for Westbrook so they can maybe sign Irving, only for Irving to change his mind and play elsewhere? That feels more likely than Irving signing with LA.

3 possible starting lineups for the Lakers next season

You have to learn to walk before you learn how to run and the Lakers are trying to run a marathon and look ahead while they are still crawling into this season.

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