Lakers Agree to Trade Westbrook, Land D’Angelo Russell, Beasley and Vanderbilt in Blockbuster Deal

• Lakers, Timberwolves and Jazz have reportedly finalised a three-team, eight-player deal
• A former MVP will move to Utah, ending his short and disappointing tenure with the Lakers
• The Lakers bolster their squad with three key additions, two of whom are excellent shooters

With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, the LA Lakers have decided to roll the dice and make a huge trade just hours before the deadline.

They have agreed to a deal to land Minnesota Timberwolves guard, D’Angelo Russell as well as Utah players, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in a blockbuster three-team trade.

Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Wolves will receive guards, Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as well as picks in the trade.

The Jazz, on the other hand, will receive former MVP, Russell Westbrook, Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson in the deal.

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The Jazz also got a huge prize in the trade with the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick that is top-four protected.

Sources told ESPN’s Zach Lowe that if the Lakers’ pick to Utah is not conveyed in 2027 (if it falls into the top four), that pick then immediately converts to a 2027 second-round pick.

Lakers end Westbrook experiment

The deal brings to an end Westbrook’s stint with the Lakers. The 34-year-old proved to be a bad on-court fit for the team, with head coach, Darvin Ham demoting him to the bench earlier this season.

The two of them clashed just days before the trade, a sign that the Lakers needed a fresh start. They did just that with this deal, acquiring three players they hope will help them reach the playoffs this season.

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Lakers improve shooting with trade

Russell is averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per game this season while shooting 46.5% from the floor, including 39.1% from the 3-point area. The 26-year-old guard is averaging a career high in 3-point percentage, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage this campaign.

Beasley is another guard who can shoot it from deep. He is averaging 13.4 points this season while hitting 35.9% of his 3-point attempts for the Jazz.

Vanderbilt gives the Lakers another frontcourt option, with the 6-foot-9 forward averaging 8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season. He was solid on the defensive end for the Jazz, playing as a starter in 41 of their 52 games.

Phoenix lands Durant in trade

Sports Brief recently reported on another heavyweight trade, with the Brooklyn Nets exchanging superstar, Kevin Durant and forward, T.J. Warren to the Phoenix Suns for Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Jae Crowder.

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The New Yorkers got a major haul, as they also received four first-round draft picks from the Suns and the right to swap another first-round pick.

The massive Durant trade comes just days after the Nets shipped off Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks.