We're heartbeats into the NBA's silly season, with rumours and surprising trades expected to once again change the landscape of the NBA.
If you blinked you may have already missed a potential deal between the Lakers and Wizards that will land nine-time All-NBA performer Russell Westbrook back in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Discussions toward a completed deal are largely centered on the draft compensation that would return to Wizards in the trade — whether deal includes Lakers 22nd overall pick tonight or perhaps second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/FV78eXb1Wh
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021
The race to get hot takes out about the reported potential trade has already begun with ESPN's Kendrick Perkins leading the charge.
Appearing on SportsCentre, Perkins shared his initial thoughts on the move.
"Oh I love it, and look I don't want to hear about can it work, can LeBron James and Russell Westbrook — they need shooting and all this...I don't want to hear that, it's going to work," Perkins expressed. "It instantly makes them the favourites to come out of the Western Conference.
"Can we revisit the Miami Heat? D-Wade and LeBron James with a Chris Bosh — this is a similar thing, right?
"You have Russell Westbrook and LeBron James and you have Anthony Davis, you go out and get a couple of shooters...but they're going to make it work."
Perkins didn't stop at calling them the favourites to come out of the West. In fact, he upped the ante, saying they're going to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2021-22.
"Oh I'm betting my house on it, they're gonna win it all," Perkins said. "You know why? Because LeBron James has done something in these last two years as far as being in a Laker uniform and that he has added and adjusted his game.
"We're watching him now as he's becoming more of a guy that can play off the ball, a spot-up shooter, and we already know how Russell Westbrook is going to impose his will.
"Can you imagine, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis in the pick and roll? How can you stop that? When Anthony Davis (is) rolling to the basket being a lob threat at the rim — Russell Westbrook, the most athletic point guard in today's game, the most athletic point guard to ever play in the NBA, coming at you with a head of stream, good luck."
If you're wondering, James shot 35.4 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season. If he figures to play more off the ball to allow Westbrook to operate that could be a key figure to keep an eye on next season if the trade goes through.
Although the trade has not been finalized, you can count Kendrick Perkins as one of the many who might be jumping back on the Lakers bandwagon heading into next season.
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.
