The Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, and Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a three-team deal with multiple players and picks involved. In this trade, the Lakers acquire D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt. Utah acquires Russell Westbrook and the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick with light protections(top four). Minnesota acquires Mike Conley and second-round pick compensation. This blockbuster trade may likely have other small assets involved and an update will be provided at the bottom when that becomes official.
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
This season with the Los Angeles Lakers mostly coming off the bench, Russell Westbrook averaged 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and one steal per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 41.7 percent and a three-point percentage of 29.6 percent. This season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, D’Angelo Russell averaged 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 46.5 percent and a three-point percentage of 39 percent. This season with the Utah Jazz, Mike Conley averaged 10.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and one steal per game. He paired his numbers with a field goal percentage of 50 percent and a three-point percentage of 36.2 percent.
Minnesota gets 2024 lesser of Washington-Memphis second round pick and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks via Utah, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
With this three-team deal, each of the teams gets what they need moving forward with this season and beyond. The Lakers added talented depth to attempt to compete with Lebron James. Minnesota moves off of Russell’s contract for an expiring deal in Conley. Finally, Utah moves players off their books for more draft capital. It is unclear if Utah will keep Westbrook on the roster, but he could likely be a buyout candidate in the coming days. Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt provide valuable rotation players in the Lakers’ quest to improve this season.
UPDATE: Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones are sent to Utah while Nickeil Alexander-Walker heads to Minnesota in the deal.
