If LeBron James returned to Cavs, how would the trade look?

LeBron James returning to Cavs: Would Russell Westbrook be involved?

The Lakers currently have an albatross contract on their books, a $47 million one that goes by the name of Russell Westbrook. The former MVP point guard was a deplorable fit on the Lakers last season, a poor fit that could be seen a mile away. James pushed the Lakers to add Westbrook, so he is certainly culpable in last year’s disaster season as well.

Accounting for Westbrook’s impossibly large contract, the fourth-highest in the league, the Lakers essentially don’t have flexibility to improve their team. Trading James for assets can help, but if the Lakers could somehow also move Westbrook that would free them up to really make a run at restocking around Anthony Davis.

That doesn’t seem likely in the trade with the Cavs; they would have to gut their rotation outside of the core 3 (Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen) and then would have to deal with the Westbrook contract themselves. Adding a third team into the mix may be a pathway to that goal. but a lot of assets would have to accompany Westbrook to a team with cap space, or to a team willing to send back rotation players in exchange for draft assets. That’s a “what if” too far for this exercise right now.

The other train of thought would be for the Lakers to build a playoff team around Westbrook and Davis, thus targeting players on the Cavs who would be good fits around those two “stars.” This is the more likely option, as the Lakers could make a run this season and then go big game hunting next year when Westbrook’s contract comes off the books.