Lakers Rumors: Three crazy NBA Trade Machine Trades that work
By Jason Reed
The UCLA trade
Lakers Receive: PG Russell Westbrook, PF Kevin Love
Cavaliers Receive: C Brook Lopez, PF Julius Randle
Thunder Receive: PG Jordan Clarkson, SF Luol Deng
Los Angeles sports fans are no stranger to the duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love, as they were UCLA teammates from 2007-2008. Both grew up in beaches in the greater Los Angeles area, Long Beach and Santa Monica respectively, and the duo was selected fourth and fifth overall in the 2008 draft; again, respectively.
This ridiculous trade sees the duo reunite in the city of Los Angeles to overthrow their bitter rival Golden State Warriors. Westbrook has a particular hatred for Kevin Durant, while Love has been on the losing side of things twice against the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Perhaps the duo could team together to take down the colossal super team.
Except, when we simulated, that was not the case. Despite effectively creating a UCLA trio of Lonzo Ball, Westbrook and Love – something we have explored before – the team was not able to dethrone the Warriors in the West. The team went 53-28, good enough for third in the West behind the Warriors in the Rockets.
There the duo was defeated by the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. However, together they did make the Lakers a whole lot better while making their competition in the Cavs and the Thunder worse, that is a win-win.
Yet still, the UCLA team is the least effective of the three ridiculous trades we are conducting, despite the novelty of it.