There is no question the Lakers need to get better, and in related news, they'd also like to trade Russell Westbrook. Doing the former by doing the latter, though, is proving to be a challenge. At least not without surrendering more assets than the Lakers (who are asset poor to say the least) would like to give up. There is, nonetheless, a line of thinking put out by many smart folks in the Lakers Opinionverse that says things are too far gone with Russ, and the LA needs to get a deal done before training camp.

A practical deadline, if not a hard and fast one.

But are they right? What happens if the Lakers open camp with Westbrook still on the roster? What if they open the season with him there? Is it guaranteed to be a disaster? Do the normal factors typically impacting these situations - the friction between a team trying to trade a guy and then failing to do it - apply in this situation? And if he's still in Los Angeles, is the best solution for the Lakers simply to pay Westbrook to stay away? On a talent-poor roster like the Lakers, they'd be denying the opportunity to at least see if it can work in a new atmosphere under new coach Darvin Ham. (Even if you think eventually everyone gets to a place where Westbrook's presence is untenable, is there a 10% chance it could work? 25%?)

In short, the Lakers are in a difficult spot, because a bad trade to ditch Westbrook might feel good, but only makes their problems worse.

Meanwhile, a dose of self-awareness for Westbrook would benefit the Lakers mightily, because as his former agent Thad Foucher notes, a trade where Westbrook gets bought out and struggles to find a new home doesn't do him any good? Because as Andy notes, there may - may - be one team that could plausibly be seen as a reasonable fit for Westbrook as a free agent.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Do the Lakers face a deadline to get Russell Westbrook traded away to another team?

SEGMENT 2: If Westbrook is still around, should the Lakers just send him home?

SEGMENT 3: Where, exactly, could he end up if the Lakers buy him out?

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