Photos for Headline Surfer / Trade rumor scenario: Orlando Magic's Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross, and Gary Harris for Los Angeles Lakers PG Rissell Westbrook plus a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2023 second-round pick.
By SERA KING / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- As crazy as this sounds, imagine Russell Westbook playing for the Orlando Magic this upcoming season.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has suggested the Lakers should Westbrook to the Orlando Magic.
In an Aug. 2 column, Hughes proposed that the Lakers trade Westbrook, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2023 second-round pick to the Magic for Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross, and Gary Harris.
“If I’m the Magic, I’m asking for both available first-round picks from the Lakers,” Hughes wrote. “That Westbrook remains in Los Angeles to this point suggests the Lakers aren’t keen on surrendering their 2027 and 2029 firsts in tandem, so it seems like this deal is only getting done if Orlando is willing to accept just one of those. The 2023 second-rounder is a consolation prize.
“Westbrook’s $47.1 million salary is substantial, but it’s only about $6 million more than the combined total of Fultz, Harris, and Ross. Orlando will still be in line to have over $50 million in cap space next offseason after Westbrook’s contract expires. Ideally, the Magic would buy Russ out, pocket the picks and move on to the next step in their rebuild armed with more assets.”
“Westbrook’s $47.1 million salary is substantial, but it’s only about $6 million more than the combined total of Fultz, Harris, and Ross. Orlando will still be in line to have over $50 million in cap space next offseason after Westbrook’s contract expires. Ideally, the Magic would buy Russ out, pocket the picks and move on to the next step in their rebuild armed with more assets.”
Hughes insists Fultz, Ross and Harris could help the Lakers compete in Western Conference and likely make the playoffs. Los Angeles missed the playoffs last season despite having LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, and Westbrook.
“The Lakers’ side of this isn’t complex," Hughes wrote. "They finally jettison Westbrook, using their extremely limited pick equity to do so,” Hughes wrote. “As part of the bargain, L.A. also brings back three guards who will either start or figure prominently in the 2022-23 rotation. Harris is a steady two-way wing whose three-point shooting (38.4 percent last year) and on-ball defense are both in short supply on the Lakers’ current roster, Ross is the spark-plug bench scorer L.A. lacks and Fultz is the defense-first distributor whose shooting limitations won’t be any more painful than Westbrook’s were.”
Hughes's trade proposal is among several scenarios suggested in this offseason that saw the Magic finish last in the Eastern Conference and with the second overall worst finish in the NBA.
About the Byline Writer: Sera King is associate publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet in Lake Mary, FL serving greater Orlando, Sanford, and Daytona Beach via HeadlineSurfer.com since 2008. She's also a byline writer (business, community & sports features), a videographer, and a cartoonist for the media outlet. King received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Metro Orlando Campus of Ana G. Mendez University in 2008. Headline Surfer is published by Henry Frederick, Central Florida's award-winning journalist.