How the Russell Westbrook Trade Still Haunts the Lakers - Years Later
Russell Westbrook hasn’t worn a Lakers jersey in a long time, but somehow, his presence still lingers in Los Angeles-and not in the way fans would hope.
Back when the Lakers made the decision to trade for Westbrook, they were just a season removed from winning the 2020 NBA title. The move was bold, splashy, and ultimately, costly.
The idea was to form a new Big Three with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook. Instead, it became a cautionary tale in asset mismanagement.
Fast forward to today, and the ripple effects of that trade are still being felt. On Tuesday, a key asset the Lakers used to offload Westbrook-specifically, a top-four protected 2027 first-round pick-was involved in a major trade.
The Utah Jazz packaged that pick, along with two others, to land Memphis Grizzlies All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. That’s right: the pick the Lakers gave up just to move on from Westbrook ended up being a cornerstone piece in a blockbuster deal for a defensive anchor and rising star.
Let’s rewind for a second and lay out how we got here.
The Trade That Keeps on Taking
The Lakers’ front office, reeling from a disappointing playoff exit in which Anthony Davis was banged up, decided to hit the panic button. In a three-team deal involving the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles sent out Westbrook, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and that 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected). In return, they brought in D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
At the time, the move was seen as a necessary reset-an attempt to rebalance the roster and give LeBron and AD more complementary pieces. But in hindsight, the return didn’t move the needle much.
Russell had some moments, but his second stint in LA was rocky. He helped the Lakers win a playoff series, but his inconsistency and defensive issues kept him in the trade rumor mill-just like Westbrook before him.
Beasley never found his rhythm in purple and gold and ultimately revived his career elsewhere. Vanderbilt remains on the roster, but his impact has been marginal, especially compared to other solid rotation wings around the league.
The Pick That Got Away
Now, about that pick. It’s easy to overlook future first-rounders in the moment, especially when you’re trying to maximize a championship window. But this one stings a little more because of how it was used.
The Jazz just flipped that pick-along with two others-to snag Jaren Jackson Jr., a 24-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year who fits the mold of a modern NBA big man. He protects the rim, stretches the floor, and has room to grow. He’s exactly the kind of player a team like the Lakers could use right now, especially with their current roster lacking a true two-way frontcourt presence next to Davis.
And here’s the kicker: that pick was only included in the Westbrook deal to get his contract off the books. Westbrook was on an expiring deal.
The Lakers could’ve simply played out the season, let the contract come off the books naturally, and preserved that asset for a more meaningful move. Instead, they paid a premium to make a short-term fix that didn’t deliver long-term results.
Some Protection, But Still a Price
There is some protection baked into the pick-the Lakers will keep it if it lands in the top four. If that happens, the pick converts into multiple second-rounders rather than a less-protected first. That’s a decent safety net, but it doesn’t change the fact that the pick was valuable enough to help land a player of Jackson Jr.’s caliber.
In a league where draft capital is currency, the Lakers essentially spent a hundred-dollar bill to solve a ten-dollar problem. And with the team now looking for ways to retool around LeBron and AD once again-possibly even eyeing a move around Luka Doncic if the stars align-they’re short on the kind of assets that could make a deal happen. That 2027 pick would’ve been a powerful chip to play.
Was It Worth It?
The Lakers did make it to the Western Conference Finals after the Westbrook trade, which at first glance might justify the move. But dig a little deeper, and it’s fair to question how much of that run was sustainable.
They were swept by the Denver Nuggets, and it never felt like they were truly in that series. Nikola Jokic and company were simply on another level.
Had the Lakers held onto Westbrook through the end of his deal, they might’ve been in the same playoff spot anyway-and kept their pick in the process. Instead, they chose the quick fix, and now they’re watching other teams cash in on the long-term fallout.
The Takeaway
Russell Westbrook didn’t work out in Los Angeles. That’s clear.
But the real issue wasn’t the initial trade to get him-it was the cost to get rid of him. That decision continues to echo through the franchise, limiting their flexibility and costing them a chance at meaningful roster upgrades.
Now, as the trade deadline approaches and the Lakers search for ways to inject life into a middling season, they’re feeling the absence of that pick. And while Westbrook is long gone, the shadow of that deal still looms large in Lakerland.