The Los Angeles Lakers have made a huge trade that could give them the boost they need. Russell Westbrook has been traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal that also involves the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers receive an upgrade at point guard as well as two other players who will improve their roster, though they still remain the 13th seed at the moment.
ESPN Sources: The Lakers are finalizing deal to land Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade including Mike Conley and picks to Timberwolves and Russell Westbrook and a lightly protected 2027 LA first-round pick to Jazz.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
Russell Westbrook is expected to be bought out by the Jazz and become a free agent, while the Lakers are in talks for a three-team point guard trade.
According to multiple reports, the Lakers, Jazz, and Timberwolves are in negotiations for a deal that would send Westbrook and a draft pick to Utah, veteran point guard Mike Conley to Minnesota, and D’Angelo Russell back to the Lakers.
The Lakers would also receive another Jazz player such as Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the deal.
Also in deal: Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones to Jazz, Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Timberwolves, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
The Lakers will benefit greatly from this trade as Russell is a better shooter and has played well in recent weeks. Russell’s contract expires after this season, so he won’t take up any cap space. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves would receive a pass-first point guard who is a traditional floor general in Conley, who could work well with Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns when he gets healthy.
Ongoing discussions have included Utah's Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said. Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too, per sources. https://t.co/DoI0EBOBVq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023
The trade deadline is just a day away and this deal feels like it’s on the brink of being completed. The questions surrounding the deal are centered on protections on the picks and if Minnesota believes there’s a stronger market for Russell. The trade could have also been leaked by one of the parties to put pressure on the others to agree to terms.
Overall, this trade has the potential to be a win-win for all three teams involved. The Lakers receive an upgrade at point guard, the Timberwolves receive a veteran floor general, and the Jazz receives a draft pick. It will be interesting to see how the negotiations play out and if this trade will come to fruition before the deadline.
