Lakers will have to make several decisions this summer, and one of them is whether to get Russell Westbrook out of the team.

According to Clutch Points, Westbrook is owed $47 million in the 2022-23 season, putting the Lakers in the luxury tax zone. Westbrook's payout makes it challenging for him to be tradeable, but the Lakers have some options for him.

Clutch Points reported that the Lakers could either keep him or attach a first-round pick to entice a team to take on his massive expiring salary. They can also negotiate an expensive buyout or waive Westbrook and stretch his remaining salary.

NBA Insider Marc Stein noted that the Lakers have not yet ruled out waiving and stretching the nine-time All-Star's contract, Fadeaway World reported.

According to Slam, the guaranteed money owed to an NBA player remains on their team's books for the duration of the contracted term when the player is waived.

The stretch provision allows teams to waive the player and spread the player's cap hit over additional seasons at a lesser annual value.

The waive-and-stretch provision would also allow the team to move on from the player without a trade.

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Malik Monk's Desire to Play in Los Angeles Lakers Holds a Role in Russell Westbrook Trade

Shooting guard Malik Monk's interest to play in the Lakers also plays a role in Russell Westbrook exiting his current team.

It can be recalled that Monk played with the Lakers during the 2021-2022 season on a minimum contract, and the 24-year-old player averaged 13.3 points on .472/.391/.779 shooting splits. He was reportedly the Lakers' third-best player for much of the season.

Clutch Points reported that Monk has already stated his desire to stay with the Lakers, but the team might not have the cap room to offer more than the taxpayer mid-level exception amounting to roughly $6.4 million.

The said amount is likely lower than Monk could get on the open market.

Stein noted that a straight release of Westbrook would make it easy for them to retain Malik Monk.

"A straight release of Westbrook that essentially transforms his mammoth player option for next season into what lives on their books as a three-year deal in the $15 million range annually would move the Lakers out of the luxury-tax territory and make it far easier for them to retain free agent-to-be Malik Monk," Stein said.

"Facilitating Monk's return might be reason enough for the Lakers to go this route and is expected, league sources say, to be under consideration," Stein added.

Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook voiced his interest to play again with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the 2022 to 2023 season. However, the Lakers guard noted that "nothing is promised."

Russell Westbrook Trade With Hornets Possible

Although Russell Westbrook's future next season is not yet determined, the Hornets reportedly "could emerge with Westbrook interest" this offseason.

According to Stein, league insiders have increasingly mentioned the Hornets as a team to watch in the Westbrook trade.

Stein said the interest from the Hornets would stem from "creating some financial flexibility" for the long term as the Lakers star will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

Along with Kelly Oubre Jr.'s contract, Stein noted that the Hornets would need to add one of either Gordon Hayward or Terry Rozier to the deal to make it work. 

"With the Hornets facing the onrushing expense of signing Miles Bridges to a lucrative contract extension this offseason, followed by the eventual prospect of a max extension for [LaMelo] Ball, combining one of their long-term deals with the final season on Kelly Oubre Jr.'s two-year, $24.5 million pact, as an example, could function as a workable trade framework. Any team trading for Westbrook has to send out roughly $38 million in salary," Stein said.

However, Stein added that Hornets owner Michael Jordan has yet to officially stated that the team will follow the concept of getting Russell Westbrook.

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Written by: Joshua Summers

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