NBA Rumors: Lakers Could End Up With Original Target If Pacers Trade Happens

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to part ways with Russell Westbrook who is due $47.1 million for the coming season.

Several teams such as the Charlotte Hornets have been mentioned as potential landing spots. However, one team that could make sense would be the Indiana Pacers.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pacers could look into trading for Westbrook if they want to shed off long-term contracts of certain players on their roster.

Two names come to mind – Buddy Hield and Malcolm Brogdon.

Inheriting his $47.1 million contract with Westbrook will allow the Pacers to shed a long-term salary and at least one future first-round pick. However, even if a trade ensues, there is a possibility that the Pacers would end up buying out the 2017 NBA MVP.

“Trading Hield and Brogdon for Westbrook straight up would work under the salary cap and allow the Pacers to get out from under the final three years of Brogdon’s contract and the final two of Hield’s,” Tyler Conway of the Bleacher Report wrote.

“Indiana is in the early stages of a rebuild, and both Brogdon and Hield will be in their 30s by the time the franchise can reasonably expect to be a contender,” he added.

Ironically, Hield was one of the Lakers' original targets before the Westbrook signing. The purple and gold appeared to still have interest in the 29-year-old guard in February but nothing materialized.

But now with most teams focusing on the NBA offseason, pursuing Hield anew would make sense. And if a deal with the Pacers is struck, Los Angeles could end up getting another guard to add to their roster.

Westbrook failed to meet expectations and such proved costly for the Lakers. Los Angeles failed to make it to the NBA playoffs and is expected to undergo changes this summer.