NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers declined blockbuster offer from Jazz

NBA Trade Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers declined a blockbuster trade offer from the Utah Jazz. 

Nearly all offseason long, the expectation was that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to make a trade. It simply never came. Although, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t dialogue on potential deals. During the offseason, the Lakers were linked to a few teams. Even though nothing transpired, the conversations did happen.

And one of the teams that the Lakers reportedly talked with was the Utah Jazz. We now know that nothing transpired but The Athletic’s Tony Jones gave insight into an interesting tidbit that took place in conversations between the Lakers and Jazz.

The trade that the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly declined

According to Jones, the Jazz was ready to pull the trigger on a potential deal with the Lakers that would’ve sent Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and a 2023 first-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks.

The Lakers ultimately declined the offer from the Jazz. Looking back, it’s an interesting one. I’m not saying that the Lakers should’ve accepted the deal but it’s hard to imagine that there will be a better deal out there for Westbrook at this point.

Maybe I’m wrong and the Lakers do find a better deal but I have my doubts.

Bogdanovic is averaging 21 points and four rebounds on 52 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent shooting from 3-point range. Is that something that could be useful for the Lakers right now? Absolutely.

Conley and Gay haven’t been great for the Jazz but perhaps a new scenery could help them ignite a new part of their careers. Maybe the Lakers end up trading for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, which is objectively a better overall package.

I’m afraid that there’s at least a small chance that the Lakers could end up regretting not making this move. Maybe not in the long run because those two future first-round picks could end up being valuable, but more so in the immediate.

The Lakers have gotten off to a 0-3 start to the season and they are searching for answers. This team desperately needs to make a trade and I’m not quite sure when or where it’s going to come from.

Something will be done, though. Even though I don’t believe the Lakers’ front office is the best in the NBA, I can imagine them deciding to do nothing this season.