BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: Lakers, Timberwolves And Jazz Reportedly Agree To A Deal
UPDATE: ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported more details about the trade.
Wojnarowski: "Also in deal: Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones to Jazz, Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Timberwolves, sources said."
On Wednesday evening, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports that the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz "are finalizing" a blockbuster three-team trade.
After months of speculation, 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook has finally been traded from the Lakers.
Via Charania: "Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are finalizing trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles, Russell Westbrook and first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. and second-round pick compensation to Minnesota, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium."
The Lakers are getting an impressive haul in the deal that will help LeBron James and Anthony Davis in their pursuit of an NBA Championship.
Russell was the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Lakers (and spent the first two seasons of his career with them).
Right now, he is averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per contest while shooting 46.5% from the field and 39.1% from the three-point range.
The former All-Star is an excellent addition to the roster and will help make up an elite big three (Davis, James and Russell)
In addition, Beasley and Vanderbilt are solid role players that will help boost their bench.
As for the Timberwolves, they get a replacement in veteran point guard Mike Conley who has three seasons of experience playing with Rudy Gobert (the Timberwolves' All-Star center).
