Russell Westbrook

D'Angelo Russell is heading to L.A., but the other two pieces bound for the Lakers could be the real key here.

He also doesn’t need the ball in his hands as much as Russell did, so it allows [Anthony Edwards](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/anthony-edwards-od38ONt5aEAWM6H0/) to have the ball more. They can figure out a buyout and let him go sign wherever wants to take a chance on him ( [maybe L.A.’s other team?](https://twitter.com/LawMurrayTheNU/status/1623495680307396608)) He would do more of what [Donovan Mitchell](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/donovan-mitchell-c5XmTqu40nNV02JE/) couldn’t and find the passing angles or passing gumption to send that thing into the big man. [Rudy Gobert](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/rudy-gobert-HoB7w4Z5ROZnzHO4/), often as the guard who had no problem passing to him. He’s a 6-foot-6 wing with good playmaking skills, and he’s shot the ball well this season in limited minutes. Russell’s role would be to run the offense when James isn’t on the floor and knock down shots whenever a defense swarms James and [Anthony Davis](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/anthony-davis-YhDofdcmUKoYKV18/). Back when the Jazz were trying to compete on a grander scale, they played way better basketball with Conley on the court, and that was a pretty deep and loaded team (even though they faltered in the postseason). Minnesota would get Mike Conley Jr., [Nickeil Alexander-Walker](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/nickeil-alexander-walker-HdXueFndMt2cxLGS/) and three second-round picks in the deal, and the Jazz would receive [Russell Westbrook](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/russell-westbrook-6Eb0XPY16UzzJWbc/) and highly coveted draft compensation. I would wager Conley starts seeing more of that type of impact on/off the court with a team like Minnesota that is hoping to be far more competitive and successful than this current Jazz team. [LeBron James](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/lebron-james-dxRvkEThnxpMbhcr/) on the floor, but he was not always the primary point guard with Minnesota. Even if Russell is more of a flop, having way more of a playoff rotation with these guys in the mix does constitute a significant upgrade. Russell has been brutal for the Wolves this season as he tries to capitalize on a contract year.

The Bulls are reportedly interested in signing Russell Westbrook, should the Utah Jazz buy out the rest of his contract, according to Chris Haynes.

The Bulls have paid the luxury tax once in franchise history. The Clippers are running favorites for the former MVP point guard. Along with the Bulls, the Los Angeles Clippers are interested.

The trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks was the first blockbuster deal before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, but it wasn't the last.

10 seed, they may even face each other in the play-in tournament with Wednesday's trade as a backdrop. 9 seed in the Western Conference standings and the Lakers two games back of the No. EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT WORK OUT THE WAY WE ALL WISHED, IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU SUIT UP FOR THE PURPLE AND GOLD.

The Westbrook era comes to an end with the Lakers as they reunite with their former first-round pick. Mike Conley will head to Minnesota as part of the ...

[recent trade acquisition Rui Hachimura](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/01/23/rui-hachimura-trade-lakers-wizards/?itid=lk_inline_manual_17), Vanderbilt and Beasley will play key roles in James’s remade supporting cast. The Timberwolves, who have struggled to reach their full offensive potential, will hope that reuniting Gobert with Conley will help the French center find greater consistency and productivity. As the Lakers seek to make a push into the West’s play-in tournament, Russell should serve as a floor-spacing shooter and secondary ballhandler alongside James. However, Ham quickly moved Westbrook to the bench after [erratic late-game decisions](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/24/russell-westbrook-lakers-bad-shots/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/24/russell-westbrook-lakers-bad-shots/?itid=lk_inline_manual_8) early in the season. [oach Frank Vogel, who was fired](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/04/11/frank-vogel-fired-lakers/?itid=lk_inline_manual_8) at the end of last season. A scoring guard with a soft-touch jumper who made the 2019 all-star team as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Russell has faced questions about his motor and drive during recent stops with the Golden State Warriors and Timberwolves. 1 option in his third season. [trading for Rudy Gobert](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/01/rudy-gobert-trade/?itid=lk_inline_manual_16) and re-signing Towns to a long-term extension last summer, the Timberwolves opted against giving Russell an extension this year. Neither player was openly critical of the other, but James openly pined for the Lakers to trade for Kyrie Irving this week. Cast as the third member of a “Big Three” alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook proved to be a poor fit as the Lakers missed the 2022 playoffs and entered Wednesday’s action as the West’s 13th seed. 2 pick in the 2015 draft. If an agreement is reached, Westbrook, a nine-time all-star, would be an unrestricted free agent.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a three-team trade ahead of the NBA's Feb. 9 deadline, per ESPN's.

While he's had an up-and-down season, Russell averaged 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 54 games for Minnesota this season while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from deep. As for the Jazz, they get a primary ball-handler in Westbrook, who had been playing as L.A.'s sixth man this season. Additionally, Toscano-Anderson and Jones give Utah some more depth at small forward and center. The Timberwolves are also adding Alexander-Walker for depth at shooting guard. Adding Beasley gives the Lakers some more depth at shooting guard. some more depth on the wings. Westbrook averaged 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 52 games with the Purple and Gold while shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from deep. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 36 games for the Jazz this year while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from deep. As for Vanderbilt, he gives L.A. In 52 games with Utah this season, he averaged 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from deep. Additionally, "Minnesota gets 2024 lesser of Washington-Memphis second round pick and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks via Utah," per Utah is landing Russell Westbrook and L.A.'s 2027 top-four-protected first-round pick.

Westbrook, a nine-time All-Star, would head to Utah after not fitting smoothly with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Minnesota's D'Angelo Russell will return ...

He is a more traditional point guard than Russell and may fit better next to Anthony Edwards, the [third-year guard](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/edwaran01.html) who has emerged as a franchise player for the Timberwolves. The Lakers traded him to the Nets in 2017, before his third season. Russell’s replacement in Minnesota would be Conley, who started 42 games at point guard for the surprisingly resilient Jazz this season. The Jazz will mark Westbrook’s fifth team in five years, an unusual level of movement for a former M.V.P. The Washington Wizards traded Westbrook to the Lakers before the 2021-22 season, giving the Lakers high hopes that he would be part of a so-called superteam with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Only months into the 2019-20 season, Golden State traded him to the Timberwolves, where he played alongside his close friend Karl-Anthony Towns. The Westbrook trade will also send to the Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, center Damian Jones and a first-round pick in the 2027 draft. Crucially for the Lakers, he will provide another shooter as they attempt to salvage their season: He is shooting 39.1 percent from deep this season. That, along with his below-average perimeter shooting, sunk the chances of him fitting with James and Davis. Westbrook averaged 16.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game off the To acquire Westbrook, the Lakers traded multiple players who were crucial to their championship run in 2020. But in Los Angeles, Westbrook struggled to adjust to coming off the bench and not being the primary ballhandler.