KEY POINTS

  • The Lakers are planning to trade Westbrook 
  • Westbrook is a nine-time NBA All-Star
  • The Lakers were in talks with the Spurs for Westbrook's trade this summer

San Antonio Spurs are reportedly open to trading for Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook.

Apart from Spurs, even Utah Jazz are interested in securing Westbrook as they are starting a rebuilding project and are willing to discard several veterans, reported Yahoo Sports.

Lakers are looking to improve their roster by getting rid of Westbrook, who is a nine-time NBA All-Star. He earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the 2016–17 season.

However, a source close to the Spurs revealed the two teams are no longer engaged in active talks over Westbrook's trade as the Lakers currently prefer offers from either Indiana Pacers or Utah Jazz, reported Spurs Talk.

Earlier this summer, Lakers were reportedly willing to go ahead with a trade involving Westbrook that would've brought Kyrie Irving to L.A. With Irving staying put with the Brooklyn Nets, the Spurs may still be open to receiving Westbrook.

According to a Western Conference scout, the Lakers have been spreading the word that they will take a wait-and-see approach to trade Westbrook as training camp approaches. If the Lakers decide to trade Westbrook, the Spurs will be one of the few teams in the league to be open to such a deal, the Spurs Talk further claimed.

NBA's 2022-23 season is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18 with the opening match to be between Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 31, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

The Lakers are reportedly not planning to deal with Westbrook prior to the beginning of the new season, mostly because they may receive better deals before the trading deadline this winter.

If the Lakers do secure a trade deal for Westbrook, they seem to have their eyes set on getting Bojan Bogdanovic, Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson, according to LebronWire.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have discussed a four-team trade with Utah, New York and Charlotte ahead of the Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland trade, according to The Athletic. That could see a four-team deal, bringing Bojan Bogdanović and Terry Rozier back to the Lakers.

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