After missing out on Kyrie Irving, the Los Angeles Lakers struck a deal for another offensive-minded point guard.
D’Angelo Russell will make his way back to the team that drafted him in a three-team deal.
The full trade details between the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz are as follows:
- Lakers Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt
- Timberwolves Receive: Mike Conley Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Three (3) Second-Round Picks
- Jazz Receive: Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones, Lakers’ 2027 First-Round Pick (Top 4 Protected)
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
Similar to the situation in Brooklyn, the divorce between LA and Westbrook is finally made official.
While Westbrook played his role well this year off the bench, the pairing never felt like a good fit.
The deal could save the season for LeBron James and the Lakers.
Currently 25-30 and 13th in the Western Conference, it appeared the Lakers were in danger of wasting another year of James’ prime.
Russell, Beasley, and Vanderbilt should fit much better alongside James and Anthony Davis.
Winner: LeBron James
James feels like the clearest choice in terms of who won this trade.
The 38-year-old mega star just became the all-time leading scorer in the NBA and continues to perform at an elite level in his 20th season.
The King is cemented at the top 👑
Congrats on the all-time scoring record, @KingJames 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aPikt4yEjk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 8, 2023
It appeared the Lakers were going nowhere at all this year until this trade.
James now has a supporting cast that fits cleaner next to himself and Davis.
Russell and Beasley are both high-volume shooters from beyond the arc.
Both players have taken more than seven threes per game each of the past three seasons.
Russell is a career 36% shooter from deep while Beasley is a career 38% shooter from deep.
Vanderbilt, while not a great shooter, does nearly everything else well.
He can defend multiple positions, protect the rim, and make connecting passes on offense.
With Thomas Bryant being traded away, Vanderbilt can soak up some minutes at center.
LeBron now has a team around him that gives him a chance come playoff time.
Loser: Utah Jazz
This deal is decent for all parties involved.
Lakers and Timberwolves get win-now talent that better fits next to their stars and the Jazz get the Lakers’ future first-round pick they coveted.
But getting just one first-round pick for three key rotation pieces feels like a letdown for Utah.
The Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades were amazing.
Since then…
Utah has lost: Bogdanovic, Conley, Vanderbilt, Beasley, NAW
Utah has received: Saben Lee, Olynyk, cash, Westbrook (to be bought out), JTA, Damian Jones, a top-4 protected 2027 1st-round pick from LA
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) February 9, 2023
Especially when you consider what they got in return for their two former superstars.
Donovan Mitchell brought back five first-round picks, an All-Star (Lauri Markkanen), a quality scoring guard (Collin Sexton), and a promising young player (Ochai Agbaji).
Rudy Gobert brought back an additional five first-round picks and five players, two of which were Beasley and Vanderbilt.
Perhaps General Manager Danny Ainge felt comfortable getting less for Conley, Beasley, and Vanderbilt because of the massive haul he got for his two stars.
But reports all along said the Jazz wanted multiple first-round picks in return for the rest of their role players.
Getting just the one, as valuable as it may potentially be, is a bit of a weak return.
NEXT:
NBA Insiders Discuss Russell Westbrook’s Tough Lakers Tenure
