Report: Russell Westbrook Expected to be Traded, D'Angelo Russell Returns to Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to acquire D'Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 3-team deal with the Utah Jazz including Russell Westbrook

D'Angelo Russell appears to be heading back to Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly nearing a three-team deal to re-acquire Russell alongside Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in exchange for Russell Westbrook and draft compensation to the Utah Jazz and Mike Conley Jr. to the Minnesota Timberwolves, per Shams Charania.

The deal has yet to be finalized as teams work through pick protections and the specifics of the draft compensation, per Charania.

Raptors Impact

If finalized, the deal likely takes the Lakers out of the Fred VanVleet sweepstakes, should the Toronto Raptors opt to move on from their lead guard. Los Angeles has been among the list of teams that have reportedly had interest in acquiring VanVleet but the addition of D'Angelo Russell will likely change that. 

If there is good news for Toronto, the Lakers move now turns up the pressure on the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and Phoenix Suns to respond with a deal, potentially increasing the trade value of VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr.

The deal should also decrease the value of the Pelicans' valuable pick swap with the Lakers that could have been a pick Toronto was targeting in a deal with New Orleans.

The trade deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Thursday afternoon

Further Reading

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