Former Ohio State PG D'Angelo Russell Headlines NBA Trade Rumors
Former Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell could be headed back to where his NBA career began within the next 24 hours.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Tony Jones, the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz are in discussions of a three-team trade that would send Russell to the Lakers. In a corresponding move, the Jazz would receive Lakers guard Russell Westbrook and draft compensation while the Timberwolves would acquire Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr.
Conley, 35, also played at Ohio State during the 2006-07 season.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Conley could be traded elsewhere before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, thus scraping the deal altogether. The Timberwolves also could hold the most power in the trade since Russell is viewed as the centerpiece of the trade.
Russell, 26, is currently in his third season with Minnesota after being traded by the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins and a first-round pick at the 2020 deadline. This season, he currently is averaging 17.9 points per game and 6.2 assists.
With the emergence of third-year pro Anthony Edwards in the backcourt, Russell has been at the forefront of trade rumors since the start of the regular season. Each year since his arrival, the former Buckeyes' scoring average has decreased, going from 21.7 to 18.1 in the past two-plus years.
With Russell in a contract year, Minnesota would be wise to move off him for the top price if it doesn't intend on offering him a lucrative extension. Per Wojnarowski, n extension could come should Russell be kept following Thursday's deadline.
Russell, a native of Louisville, KY., spent one season at Ohio State in 2014. He played in 35 games and averaged 19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assist per game. Russell helped the Buckeyes reach the NCAA Tournament in 2015, only to be eliminated by Arizona in the Round of 32.
Los Angeles has been trying to move Westbrook since the offseason, but has failed to find a suitable trade partner. With Conley entering the mix for Minnesota, the Lakers could move the 34-year-old Westbrook to the rebuilding Jazz in hopes of making a Western Conference postseason push in the second half of the season.
According to TNT's Chris Haynes, Utah would likely buy Westbrook out of his contract, thus allowing him to sign with a contender.
Russell would have somewhat of a homecoming should the trade be finalized. Drafted by the Lakers second overall in 2015, Russell averaged 14.3 and 4.0 assists per game in his first two seasons before being traded in the 2017 offseason to the Brooklyn Nets.
As for Conley, he would provide a veteran presence in Minnesota's backcourt as the franchise looks to make the postseason. Conley should fill the void lost by Russell and has experience playing with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during their time in Utah.
Drafted fourth overall by the Memphis Grizzles in 2007, Conley spent one season in Columbus before going pro. He averaged 11.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.4 rebounds for Buckeyes en route to a National Championship appearance against Florida.
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