Leverage in trade negotiations is fickle. One moment, you think you have the upper hand, next, you wonder how the hell you arrived at a place where you now no longer have a shot at the package you once thought you might get at a bargain. Life comes at you fast, and in the NBA, hesitancy can often be costly.
The Lakers probably headed into this offseason maybe hoping for a star-caliber talent in return for Russell Westbrook, but presumably were ready to break up his contract into a few smaller ones even if it meant no one coming back with anything close to his resumé.