Lakers acquire D-Lo from T-Wolves, trade Westbrook in 3-team deal
The Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing a trade to land Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell and the Utah Jazz's Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in a deal involving Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, and picks.
Utah will receive Westbrook, a 2027 top-four protected pick, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones from the Lakers.
Minnesota will receive Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the lesser of the Washington Wizards' or Memphis Grizzlies' 2024 second-round picks, and 2025 and 2026 second-round selections from the Jazz.
The Lakers' new trio of Russell, Beasley, and Vanderbilt is expected to debut Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, according to Dan Woike of the L.A. Times.
With the addition of L.A.'s 2027 first-rounder, the Jazz have acquired 15 unprotected or lightly protected 1st-round picks through 2029 to complement their young core of Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji.
Los Angeles originally selected Russell with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After two seasons with the Lakers, the one-time All-Star played with the Brooklyn Nets and Warriors before joining the Timberwolves.
Russell is shooting career highs in field-goal, 3-point, and free-throw percentage. The 26-year-old is in the final season of a four-year, $117.3-million contract.
Westbrook is averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.2 rebounds in his second season with the Lakers, primarily in a reserve role. He's making $47.1 million in the last year of his contract.
The former MVP is set to play for his fifth team in as many years after spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook reportedly got into a heated exchange with Lakers head coach Darvin Ham during halftime of Tuesday's loss to the Thunder.
The Lakers were apparently willing to move their remaining unprotected picks in 2027 and 2029 for Kyrie Irving before the Brooklyn Nets traded the eight-time All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks.