One Free Agent Who Could Benefit From A Lakers Westbrook Trade

The arrival of Patrick Beverley in LA could send a few dominoes falling. When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for the feisty point guard from the Utah Jazz, it called into question just what role Russell Westbrook would have.

And while Lakers coach Darvin Ham says "he has lineups in mind to play Russ and PatBev side-by-side," (despite their long-standing beef and playing the same position), many still believe that the Beverley trade accelerates an eventual dealing of Westbrook elsewhere.

And if that happens, one free agent could stand to benefit. According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, Dennis Schröder, who played for the Lakers in 2020-21, and turned down an $84M extension from them at that time, could still be on the team's radar once again—but this time, as a backup point guard to Beverley.

Dennis Schroder may still be a possibility for the Lakers even after the Patrick Beverley trade:https://t.co/JM2op39n5i pic.twitter.com/4vX0OOaQ4d
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 30, 2022

Schröder missed out on the free agent party last summer, and was forced to sign a $5.9M mid-level exception deal with the Boston Celtics. Now, after a trade deadline deal to Houston in February, he's out on the market once again, looking for work.

The Lakers were said to be interested in a possible Schröder reunion earlier this month. But a backcourt backlog of Westbrook and Beverley would make that practically impossible.

So unless another desirable situation presents itself, Schröder will have to wait out the Westbrook saga to see if a Hollywood reunion could be in the cards for him.

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports