The Los Angeles Lakers are widely considered a fringe playoff contender at this point based on their current roster construction, but they're expected to continue exploring a potential trade of Russell Westbrook along with their 2027 and 2029 first round picks. A trade is not expected to be imminent as they reportedly feel their odds of a difference making trade increase by waiting.
"I'm told to expect Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to wait until post-Thanksgiving," said Adrian Wojnarowski of how they're approaching the trade market. "Twenty games into the season and see what teams may start pivoting, who don't start off well, who decide they may start to unload players and perhaps get involved in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes to get down in the lottery instead of as we saw in previous years teams chasing the play-in tournament. And see then using that 2027, that 2029 pick, and of course Russell Westbrook's expiring contract to see what is going to be out there in the marketplace.
"And as more teams and more players become... and teams become sellers... There was so many buyers the last couple of years. The expectation is that there's going to be more sellers this year. You start to see the asking price in trades to go down. It's supply and demand. Expect the Lakers to get to that 20-game point where teams kind of reach an inflection point about how they want to proceed and then see what might really be available to improve this Lakers' team."