The Trade Market for the Lakers and Russell Westbrook Keeps Shrinking. Plus, Free Agent Targets!

Earlier this week, the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade that, frankly, impacted the Lakers more than it will either of those teams. Why? Because the transaction basically made it much harder for the Thunder to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Lakers. Were they going to? Probably not, but given how thin the interest in Westbrook is likely to be, any shrinkage in available options is a thing. So Wednesday's trade sending Christian Wood from Houston to Dallas makes a difference to the Lakers, too, because Wood is one of those guys rumored to have been a possibility to move in a trade for Westbrook. Probably not as likely and therefore not as landscape altering, but another potential option chipped away. It reflects just how tricky this is going to be, and why more and more experts are catching up to the hosts of this show, and expecting Westbrook to open the season with the Lakers. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves was featured in a great article by Dan Woike of the LA Times. He was one of the few feel good stories of this season, and this feature won't exactly make you feel worse. So what can he become in the NBA? And how likely is it the Lakers can find a couple more "Austin Reaves" surprises in this season's free agent/draft market? And about that market... you want the good news or the bad news when it comes to available small forwards? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Westbrook market just keeps shrinking. SEGMENT 2: Austin Reaves has a colorful background, and a big chip on his shoulder. SEGMENT 3: The small forward market is laughably thin. Which isn't a big deal, right, since the Lakers need like three of them? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. TrueBill Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Arcade1up Pre-order now from arcade1up.com - that’s  Arcade, the number 1, Up, dot com - for an estimated early September ship date!  They are giving away a NBA JAM Shaq edition to a Locked On listener! Enter for a chance to win a game console for your man-cave at arcade1up.com/lockedon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices