Basketball: NBA's Los Angeles Lakers ponder blockbuster Russell Westbrook trade

Russell Westbrook could be a candidate to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to The Undefeated, the Lakers are in trade discussions involving Westbrook, who is owed US$44.2 million in 2021-22 with the Washington Wizards.

To make the trade financially feasible, the report links guards Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder and Talen Horton-Tucker as the players most likely going to the Wizards.

Another report adds Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a player who would go from Los Angeles to Washington.

The Wizards acquired Westbrook from the Houston Rockets before last season as a running mate for Bradley Beal.

Washington made the playoffs but  were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

Westbrook attended UCLA and is a Long Beach, California native.

The 27-year-old Schroder was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and spent two seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being acquired by the Lakers last off-season.

He thrived in a sixth man role alongside Chris Paul with Oklahoma City in 2019-20, averaging 18.9 points per game, but was less effective last season with the Lakers.

He averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game in 2020-21.

Schroder turned down a four-year, US$84 million extension from the Lakers during last season.

Reuters