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[KG_ended_Bias]

LA Trades: Dwight Howard & Steve Nash

OKC Trades: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins & Perry Jones 3

LA lineup:

PG: Westbrook
SG: Kobe
SF: Artest/Clark
PF: Gasol/PJ-3
C : Perkins/Gasol

OKC lineup:

PG: Nash
SG: Martin
SF: Durant
PF: Ibaka
C : Howard

LA loses their malcontent in Howard & acquires hometown kid in the electric enigmatic Westbrook who can become a wonderful get back for a person you may lose for nothing. Also LA gets a banger back with Perkins & a future high profile prospect in PJ-3.

OKC gets a True facilitating pass 1st PG in Nash who is also great shot as your #3 option. The centerpiece to this deal of course would be Howard! Who along with Ibaka would form the best interior shot blocking unit since Mourning & Mutumbo was at Georgetown. Durant could then go into his inner "teen wolf" mode & take all the shots he want Jordan esque & not have to worry about Westbrook stealing the big shots & his moments throughout the game due to the ballhog being gone.

[CelticsFan9]

Lakers lose that trade badly.

Kobe and Westbrook on one team?  Talk about being last in the league in assists.

[Who]

I wouldn't trade Westbrook for Dwight Howard at this point in time.

Not until Dwight shows he can play at a higher level post-back-surgery.

[KG_ended_Bias]

It's a interesting dilemma for both sides! I think personally OKC becomes a better team.

[CelticConcourse]

Both sides lose, OKC should never trade when it's a contender. Contender + Trade= No Championship

[D.o.s.]

My take:
Lakers win that trade--Nash and Howard are borderline useless, and the notion that Westbrook is a ballhog (with the implication being he should do nothing but feed the ball to Durant on most plays) is at best misguided, and at worst painfully incorrect.

If you take Westbrook off that Thunder team, who else is going to score and initiate the offense? Steve "I actually fell apart in 2008 but the PHX medical staff kept me all duct taped together" Nash? Dwight "never going to be the same" Howard?

For better or worse, Westbrook has actually been a better basketball player than Nash over his first four seasons--and when you factor in the fact that Westbrook has a much higher ceiling and is significantly less injury prone... it's no contest. LA does that in a heartbeat, even if it means having to deal with Perkins.

And here are the Nash/Westbrook numbers, for the doubters:
http://bkref.com/tiny/6SFV5

[gpap]

Both sides lose, OKC should never trade when it's a contender. Contender + Trade= No Championship

See the team that OKC traded with in February 2011

[GreenEnvy]

I wouldn't trade Westbrook for Dwight Howard at this point in time.

Not until Dwight shows he can play at a higher level post-back-surgery.

They'd be sacrificing their chances this year, but be situated to become a potential dynasty starting next season.

Durant gets more touches (which when he reaches his true prime, you want him shooting 25 times a game), and Ibaka+Howard on D would be really hard to beat.

Even if Howard doesn't get quite all the way back to what he was a few seasons ago, if he can get anywhere close to that...

[scaryjerry]

Both sides lose, OKC should never trade when it's a contender. Contender + Trade= No Championship

They've been fine after trading harden..

[IndeedProceed]

OKC wins that trade as long as they can retain Howard.

[nostar]

I like this trade for both sides. I think maybe the Lakers lose a little because Perkins is overpaid but they probably make all of that loss up getting PJIII as a prospect. The biggest unknown is if Howard will resign in LA. They can give him the extra year and $30M in salary so trading the best center in a league starving for centers is only smart if you can't retain them.

OKC gets better immediately. I can't stand watching that team right now where Westbrook just completely ignores Durant as he's "running" the offense. It's criminal.

My take:
...the notion that Westbrook is a ballhog (with the implication being he should do nothing but feed the ball to Durant on most plays) is at best misguided, and at worst painfully incorrect.

It's not misguided. If anything it's apparent and tragic. Westbrook has no idea how to run an offense. He's so gifted athletically his numerous mental mistakes are usually glossed over. Furthermore he's probably OKC's largest liability on defense so subbing in Nash wouldn't be so much different for them systemically. OKC with a true point guard would be scary good.

[PhoSita]

Nobody.  We all lose.  The world is a worse place because you suggested it.

 

[krook]

bradley/d-west
terry/lee/pargo
pierce/green
randolph/wilcox
kg/mozgov/collins

[CroCorvus]

lakers clearly. OKC will never win championship with Westbrook, never. I can't say that i care about that, but as a fan, you can't digest all that bs, he's acting like child on a playground. Presti made a mistake, he should have trade westbrook for a solid play maker and leave the beard.they would be champions by now...