LA Lakers trade rumors: Russell Westbrook to be traded ahead of Feb. 9 deadline to Utah Jazz in exchange for D'Angelo Russell in 3-team deal
Russell Westbrook is having one of the worst seasons of his professional basketball career and is set to be traded. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the LA Lakers are discussing a trade that would send Westbrook to the Utah Jazz.
The trade would involve the Minnesota Timberwolves as well. Minnesota made huge roster moves during the offseason.
The NBA insider reported that the Lakers would receive D'Angelo Russell from the Timberwolves, while Westbrook and draft compensation would go to the Jazz. Veteran guard Mike Conley, who is currently with Utah, would be sent to Minnesota.
Westbrook is averaging 15.9 points per game in the 2022-23 season, the second-worst mark of his career. While the 6-foot-3 guard is a decent playmaker, the Lakers need more out of him, which is why he may be traded soon. The league's trade deadline is Thursday.
The NBA veteran is the second highest-paid player in the league this season, at $47 million, trailing only Steph Curry, at $48 million. Westbrook's contract expires in just a few months, but it appears that the Lakers want to get rid of him sooner than that.
The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.
The Utah Jazz are interested in trading Mike Conley, who is also having a poor season. Conley is 35 and has one more year left on his contract, but he would be sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves in this trade.
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Russell Westbrook would be sent to the Utah Jazz along with draft picks.
Like Westbrook, D'Angelo Russell is also on an expiring contract. However, he is owed $31.3 million for his services this season.
While this move would cut the Lakers' luxury tax, general manager Rob Pelinka may not be willing to part ways with draft picks for another expiring contract. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard, on the other hand, would be an upgrade over Russell Westbrook.
D'Angelo Russell's return to Los Angeles
D'Angelo Russell was drafted with the second overall pick in 2015 by the LA Lakers. In his first season with the team, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.2 points and 3.3 assists per game.
The guard increased his scoring average to 15.6 ppg in his second season, but was quite inefficient, converting only 40.5% of his shots.
The LA Lakers traded Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2017. Since joining the Nets, the guard has also played for the Golden State Warriors and the Timberwolves.
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He has averaged 17.9 ppg and 6.2 apg in 54 games this season. Russell has also converted 39.1% of his long-range shots, which is the best mark of his career, and he could help the Lakers make a playoff push.