The NBA trade deadline is today, but a major trade has already been completed according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The trade involves the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz.
In the deal, the Lakers will acquire D’Angelo Russell from the Timberwolves and Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz. The Jazz will acquire Russell Westbrook from the Lakers and the Timberwolves will acquire Mike Conley Jr. from the Jazz. The Jazz will also receive a first-round pick while the Wolves will receive a second-round pick.
Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are finalizing trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles, Russell Westbrook and first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. and second-round pick compensation to Minnesota, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023
The move comes after a season of speculation about the Lakers intending to trade Russell Westbrook before the NBA trade deadline. Although last season, Westbrook’s first with the Lakers, did not go very well, he apparently had reinvented his game as a sixth man this season, although he did not shoot particularly well from the field.
The Lakers will reunite with D’Angelo Russell, whom the team acquired with the second overall pick in the 2015 Draft. He should fit into the starting lineup right away. The Lakers will also have good depth on the bench with Beasley who can be a sixth man himself and Vanderbilt who is one of the best backup centers in the league.
Read also: BOMB IN NBA: KEVIN DURANT traded to the PHOENIX SUNS.
