NBA Rumors: Pacers "Get A Chuckle" Out Of Lakers' Westbrook Offer

According to the latest rumor, the Los Angeles Lakers are still, despite their new coach's insistence to the contrary, trying to unload Russell Westbrook. ESPN's Jonathon Givony described on The Lowe Post podcast the trade that the Lakers offered the Indiana Pacers, which simply resulted in a good laugh for Pacers' execs.

The offer was apparently Westbrook plus Talen Horton-Tucker plus a far-in-the-future first-round pick, in exchange for Pacers' guard Malcolm Brogdon. 

“They just get a nice chuckle and say ’No thank you, we’ve got better deals on the table than that,’” said ESPN draft analyst Givony.

The Lakers and Pacers discussed a trade that would send away Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, and a 2026 first rounder for Malcolm Brogdon as a possible return. The talks reportedly ended. (Per @DraftExpress on The Lowe Post) pic.twitter.com/4eXVrb1Ixe

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 22, 2022

Westbrook is sitting on a $47M player option, which he's expected to pick up before next week's deadline. He had a disastrous year with the Lakers, with his points, rebounds and assist numbers falling drastically from previous years, in addition to horrendous shooting. 

Horton-Tucker, who signed a 3-year, $30M contract before last season, averaged a middling 10 points and 3.2 rebounds in 25 minutes per game, while shooting an ugly 41.6% from the floor, and 26.9% from three-point land.

Brogdon, the former Rookie of the Year, averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds for the Pacers this past season.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports