LeBron James’s new sidekick? Lakers ‘near trade for Wizards guard and former MVP Russell Westbrook’: Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham goes first to Pistons at NBA Draft
- The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly nearing a deal to get former MVP Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN and the Athletic
- Sources told ESPN that the Lakers would send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 draft pick in the proposed trade
- Cade Cunningham is expected to be picked first overall by the Detroit Pistons at Thursday’s NBA Draft. Cunningham played one year at Oklahoma State
- Jalen Green, who played in the G League last season, went second to Houston
The Detroit Pistons took Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham first overall at Thursday’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn, but the biggest basketball news of the night belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are reportedly nearing a trade to add former MVP Russell Westbrook alongside his friend LeBron James.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania are both reporting that the Lakers are in advanced talks with the Washington Wizards to trade for Westbrook, who would return to his native Los Angeles to play for his fourth team in four seasons.
Sources told ESPN that the Lakers would send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 draft pick in the proposed trade.
The Detroit Pistons are on the clock with the first pick in tonight’s draft in Brooklyn, but the biggest NBA news of the night belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are reportedly nearing trade to add former MVP Russell Westbrook (right) to a cast that includes LeBron James (left)
The Detroit Pistons took Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham first overall at Thursday’s draft
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, center, poses for a photo with players projected to be first round draft picks before the NBA basketball draft
After winning the franchise’s 17th league title inside the NBA bubble in 2020, the Lakers suffered a first-round defeat to the eventual Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns in the playoffs this year largely due to injuries to Davis and James.
The Lakers were also criticized for a lack of backcourt depth, with Westbrook, a former UCLA star, would certainly address.
Los Angeles was previously had reported interest in trading Kuzma for the Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield, but that deal would no longer be possible if the Lakers complete the acquisition of Westbrook.
As for the NBA Draft, Cunningham had been expected to go first overall to the Pistons.
The Oklahoma State one-and-done star could accomplish that goal Thursday night as the headliner of a class that includes scorers, playmakers and potentially elite defenders at the top.
‘I’ve been saying for a long time,’ Cunningham said, ‘we have one of the best classes in a long time. And I’m really appreciative of the fact that we’ve all been pushing each other throughout us coming through high school and things like that.’
Only time will tell how deep the class really is, but the projections are high.
There’s Southern California big man Evan Mobley, the draft’s top big man who helped the Trojans make their deepest NCAA Tournament push in two decades. Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs helped the Bulldogs carry an unbeaten record into the national-title game. Florida State’s Scottie Barnes is a playmaking forward capable of locking down smaller guards.
And there are preps-to-pros prospects in guard Jalen Green and forward Jonathan Kuminga, with each bypassing college basketball to play in the G League.
‘Our talent on the floor speaks for itself,’ said Suggs, a former star football player who was named Mr. Football in Minnesota. ‘But off the floor and in locker rooms, we’re guys who lead and guys who you want in your locker room.’
ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said depth at the top of this draft was the best since 2003, which produced perennial All-Stars James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the first five picks.
‘Look, having LeBron in a draft was certainly better,’ said Bilas, a former Duke player. ‘Zion (Williamson in 2019) made it more interesting that year. But none of the drafts that I can remember since 2003 have combined power at the top and depth of really good talent like this.’
Advertisement