You know what'd be REALLY funny? If San Antonio traded Aldridge to get Westbrook. It wouldn't happen, of course, Aldridge is too old now... But wouldn't that be SWEET?
The only way the Lakers could keep Westbrook is if they have good players, so they can't dump too many assets. The Lakers can get him next year anyways with cap space AND retain their young players. So I say the Lakers say no.
All the more reason for them not to make that trade. If Westbrook wants to be there, he'll go as a free agent next year. If he doesn't want to be there, then they'd lose him in free agency if they traded for him. Only advantage to LA in trading for Westbrook would be in picking up his bird rights. I don't think those are worth consecutive #2 overall picks.
What if they know that OKC is going to trade him and they risk losing him to the Celtics? If I were them I wouldn't be confident about landing any FAs ever again.
You make a good argument, and I actually thought about that scenario before I posted it. But based on the personality of Westbrook, and where he grew up, and where he went to school.......Westbrook seems like he would want to play in "Hollywood".
That may be so, but I'll be happy to see Danny Ainge roll the dice. What if he offered: Isaiah Thomas Marcus Smart (who played in OK) Jaylen Brown Brooklyn's likely top 3 pick for the stacked draft of 2017? Then he'd have Horford, Westbrook, Bradley, Crowder, a shitload of cap space and the best young coach in the league.