The Charlotte Hornets have long been rumored to be a prime trade candidate to take Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Westbrook was brought to Los Angeles to be the third member of the Lakers’ big three behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but instead has struggled to fit in.
The major hang-up in any Russell Westbrook trade is just how awful his contract is. He currently is on the final year of a five-year/$207 million contract and is owed $47 million for the 2022-23 season. While this sort of deal is an obvious albatross, it also represents a boatload of potential cap space for any team willing to take on Westbrook.
What would a Russell Westbrook trade look like for the Charlotte Hornets?
Why would the Charlotte Hornets do this trade?
The primary reason for the Hornets to do this trade is the fact that they would be opening up additional cap space a year earlier. Gordon Hayward has two years remaining on his deal and is owed approximately $60 million over the next two seasons. While he is still a good player when healthy, he has simply not been healthy often enough to make his contract worth it.
The Hornets would also move an expiring contract in Mason Plumlee, who currently has one year and $9 million remaining on his contract. While Plumlee has been serviceable, he is also 32 years old and has become more expendable with the recent strong play of Nick Richards.
Finally, the Hornets get additional future draft capital in the form of 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks.
Why would the Los Angeles Lakers do this trade?
The Lakers are not a well-constructed team, as they essentially have two great players and not much else. They are in dire need of a solid wing player, which Hayward still is. While the contract is a tough pill to swallow, the Lakers are operating in “win now” mode as LeBron James continues to age and as Anthony Davis is not getting any younger. While he is not the all-star level player he used to be, Hayward is likely the best player the Lakers could get in return in any potential Westbrook deal.
Plumlee would also slide in as a solid bench piece for the Lakers. While he projects more as a high-end backup than a starter at this point, he is still capable of rebounding and providing solid minutes in a defined role.