The ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade has finally reached its conclusion. The deal that saw the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to pair the [future Hall of Famer with Anthony Davis](https://lakeshowlife.com/anthony-davis-trade-continues-haunt-lakers-another-draft-pick) and LeBron James has become a cautionary tale about the importance of fit, with neither side benefiting from the union.
Thankfully for the Lakers, the price they paid to acquire Westbrook has finally entered the rearview mirror after one last outgoing pick was made at the 2025 NBA Draft.
Los Angeles acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in one of the most controversial deals in franchise history. The Lakers parted with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
In return, it received Westbrook and second-round compensation that has since become an afterthought due to Los Angeles' tendency to overlook the draft in favor of immediate value.
At the 2025 NBA Draft, the No. 32 pick became one final reminder of the Westbrook trade. It's changed hands on multiple occasions over the years, going from the Wizards to the Brooklyn Nets to the Detroit Pistons and ultimately to the Boston Celtics.
At the 25th hour, Boston traded the No. 32 overall selection to the Orlando Magic, which selected French forward Noah Penda.
Magic select Noah Penda with pick from Lakers' Russell Westbrook trade
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The Lakers, unfortunately, still have a 2027 first-round pick going to the Utah Jazz from when they parted ways with Westbrook. That deal ultimately saw Los Angeles bring back D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, who helped the team reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers also acquired Dorian Finney-Smith in a trade that centered around Russell, which one might argue has helped justify the outgoing 2027 selection.
Unfortunately, nothing will ease the pain of seeing other teams add players via the NBA Draft when Los Angeles lacks the resources to consistently do so. It doesn't help that Penda could realistically crack Orlando's rotation and become an impact player.
The Lakers are a shining example of that possibility, as they selected center Ivica Zubac at No. 32 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
The silver lining, of course, is that the reminders of the Lakers' blunder of a trade have come to an end. Several other deals continue to haunt Los Angeles, but the failed attempt to create a Big Three with Westbrook stings differently.
The trade for Westbrook caused the proverbial snowball effect, with the franchise consistently exhausting unnecessary resources to try to replace him once he was let go.
Thankfully, the Lakers have finally figured out their point guard situation by pairing Luka Doncic with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Their three-headed monster of playmakers is nothing short of elite, and the process of [supplementing their talent is underway](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-new-owner-wastes-no-time-flexing-financial-muscles-with-savvy-move).
With the Westbrook trade officially behind the Lakers, perhaps the lessons have been learned to prevent history from repeating itself.