The Los Angeles Lakers head into Thursday’s NBA trade deadline struggling big time. Despite LeBron James breaking the all-time scoring record on Wednesday, the team lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.
Los Angeles sits at 25-30 on the season and boasts the third-worst record in the Western Conference. The team is 30-52 dating back a calendar year. It’s led to renewed speculation that general manager Rob Pelinka is set to make a big-time trade ahead of the deadline.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, that includes ongoing discussions with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. Said discussions involve D’Angelo Russell heading back to the Lakers with Russell Westbrook and draft compensation heading to Utah. Minnesota would acquire All-Star point guard Minke Conley in the trade.
According to Charania, the discussions also include Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt heading to the Lakers with Russell. Sides are said to be working through pick protections that would head to the Jazz in this hypothetical trade.
After missing out on Kyrie Irving, the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to turn to Russell shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Westbrook is slated to hit free agency this coming summer and has no future with the purple and gold. While Russell himself is also going to hit the open market, he might be a better fit with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co.
- D’Angelo Russell stats (2022-23): 17.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.2 APG, 47% shooting, 39% 3-point
The No. 2 overall pick of the Lakers back in 2015, Russell played his first two NBA seasons in Southern California. He was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2017 in what was an ill-fated trade for the Lakers that brought them Brook Lopez.
Russell Westbrook to hit free agency?
Related: Los Angeles Lakers talking expanded trade with Utah Jazz
As for Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook, it’s safe to assume that he’d be bought out if this trade materialized ahead of Thursday’s deadline. That would put a former NBA MVP on the free-agent market.
Minnesota’s inclusion in the deal is not too surprising in that the team has been looking to move off Russell. He was acquired at the NBA trade deadline back in 2020 from the Golden State Warriors. Said deal included All-Star Andrew Wiggins and draft pick compensation (Jonathan Kuminga) heading to Northern California.
Following the blockbuster acquisition of Rudy Gobert this past summer, Russell has been seen as a bad fit for the Wolves. Despite being a bit longer in the tooth, Conley would be a much better fit with Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and stud guard Anthony Edwards.