Lakers Rumors: LA Doesn't Plan to Include 1st-Round Pick in Russell Westbrook Trade

If the Los Angeles Lakers want to trade Russell Westbrook, they are going to have to give up a lot of other assets to get him.

According to The Athletic, opposing teams have been demanding that the Lakers include at least one first-round draft pick in order to take on the final year of Westbrook's contract.

As of now, the Lakers have no intention of including a first-round pick to facilitate a trade.

It has been known for a while that it would take a first-round pick for another team to acquire Westbrook.

There were reports that the Lakers and Houston Rockets were talking about a trade for John Wall.

The Lakers refused to include a first-round draft pick in the trade, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Wall did not play in a game this season because of differences with the team. The 31-year-old stands out on Houston's roster because of where the organization is in its rebuild, but no deals have materialized for him.

The Lakers can only trade their first-round picks in the next two decades. They can include their 2029 first-rounder in a potential trade if they wait until after the 2022 draft.

It might seem like moving him would be a given, given how badly things went for the Lakers this season. The franchise is still trying to maximize what is left of James and keep Davis healthy.

There is a perception among some people in the Lakers front office that the right head coach and a better supporting cast can smooth over the awkwardness of the relationship between James and Davis.

In his first year with the Lakers, Westbrook had his lowest scoring average since 2009-10, and he has a $47.1 million player option for next season. The nine-time All-Star shot under 30 percent from three-point range for the fourth time in the past five seasons.

The Lakers missed the playoffs. They have finished under.500 seven times in the past nine seasons.