Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty ImagesLos Angeles Lakers guard RussellWestbrook is reportedly the only "realistic" target for theHouston Rockets if they want to move guard John Wall before the 2022NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10.
Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeatedreported the update Tuesday on The Hoop Collective podcast (23-minutemark):
"I was told that they have acouple on the table, several on the table, but the only one that'sreally has some, you know, realistic potential to it is with theLakers for Russ. They actually make, I don't know if it's nearly tothe same dollar, but a similar salary, so you can trade themone-for-one without including anybody else. That 2027 Laker pick thatyou mentioned before, that first-round pick, seems to be prettycoveted, and I would expect it to be included in such a deal. ButJohn's in Miami. He's been working out. He actually asked the Rocketsfor permission to be in Miami so he could be near his kids and focuson working out."
Spears added that there are other options onthe table for the Rockets but said they are long shots in terms of getting a deal done. He also noted it'sunclear whether Westbrook would accept a lesser role in Houston if ablockbuster swap is made:
"I've basically have heard thatthere's a couple other possibilities, but they're more pie-in-the-skypossibilities, and it's not out of the realm of possibility for thisone to happen. To me, I think that as of today, this is the onlytrade for John Wall. If it happens, and Westbrook does come back, theRockets get somebody that at least they know. So, I was told thatthey would be open-minded, as crazy as this may sound, for him toplay with this team, but it would be under the same circumstancesthat they asked Wall to do where it would probably be coming off thebench. So, would Russell Westbrook want to come off the bench for theRockets? I think he loves playing, loves basketball and would getminutes. It just would be an off-the-bench thing that he's never donein maybe his whole life. I don't know if maybe he did that at UCLA.But if not and they make that acquisition, then perhaps they do thesame thing they're doing with Wall where he just stays in L.A. andworks out and they try to figure something out in the offseason."
Wall has yet to play for the Rocketsduring the 2021-22 season while awaiting a potential trade.
In November, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowskireported there were discussions about the five-time All-Star possiblyjoining the team's rotation, but the sides were at odds aboutthe type of role he would play upon his return, with the team preferringto remain focused on the future and giving its young core the lion's share of the minutes.
The veteran guard has more recently been in "constantcommunication" with the front office while in Miami "working onhis conditioning and ramping up workouts" in case a trade is worked out,per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
Wall played well for the Rockets lastseason after being acquired from the Washington Wizards, fittingly ina deal that also featured Westbrook. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.9assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 40 appearances.
Trading him has proved difficult,however, in large part because of the two seasons left on hislucrative four-year, $171 million contract, which includes a $47.4 million playeroption for next season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers acquiredWestbrook from the Wizards as part of an offseason roster overhaulthat hasn't delivered the desired results. Los Angeles owns a 23-24record and has yet to look like a title contender for anyextended stretch of time.
Superstar forward Anthony Davis is nearing a return froma knee injury, which will move L.A. closer to its desired rotationand give the front office a couple weeks to assess the situation with Westbrook, Davis and LeBron James in the lineup before the deadline.
If the Lakers continue to hover around.500, it's fair to wonder whether they would at least consider aWestbrook-for-Wall swap in search of a spark for the season's secondhalf.
Should that idea not come fruition, itsounds like the Rockets may have to wait until the summer to seewhether they can find a taker for the final year of Wall's contract.
