Let’s grade the reported trade proposal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that also involves the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz.
Kyrie Irving was the big point guard available ahead of the trade deadline, even with the endless drama he causes. The Los Angeles Lakers tried to make a run at Irving to reunite him with LeBron James, but they fell short of the Brooklyn Nets’ asking price. Irving was then dealt to the Dallas Mavericks to team up with Luka Doncic.
With the trade deadline taking place on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Lakers have seemingly found their guard targe, and it just so happens to be a familiar face.
A report dropped from The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Tony Jones that said the Lakers were nearing a deal to acquire D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that deal, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation would head to the Utah Jazz, while the Timberwolves acquired Mike Conley.
Additionally, Charania reports that Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt would head to the Lakers in the deal.
This deal is not yet finalized, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the trade hinges on how the Timberwolves values Russell and the return of draft picks.
Given that there’s still time before the trade is either finalized or falls apart, let’s grade the deal.
D’Angelo Russell three-team trade: Lakers trade grade
After getting eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the 2020-21 playoffs, the Lakers made the move to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards to pair him alongside Anthony Davis and James. The deal didn’t pan out, as he struggled and was even benched during the 2021-22 season. Even with the bad season, the Lakers brought him back for this season.
Then, a report dropped on Wednesday that Westbrook got into a heated argument with head coach Darvin Ham during halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Moving on from Westbrook is a win for the Lakers. Now, they are reportedly going to get their former second-overall pick back in D’Angelo Russell. When he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets after the 2016-17 season, Russell shined. Since he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Andrew Wiggins deal, however, he never averaged over 20.0 points per game in a season since.
This year, Russell is averaging 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 46.5-percent from the field and 41.1-percent from the three-point line.
The Lakers move on from Westbrook and bring in Russell. That’s a win for them.
Lakers trade grade: B
D’Angelo Russell three-team trade: Jazz trade grade
The Jazz enter the fray as the home for Westbrook, albeit briefly. In the report, the expectation is that the Jazz are expected to buy out Westbrook, per Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report.
Utah is currently sitting in 10-place in the Western Conference, which would give them the final spot in the play-in tournament if the season were to end today. This a team that traded away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell this offseason to signify they are rebuilding.
So they once again bring in more draft picks as they continue to build a team in Danny Ainge’s image.
Jazz trade grade: C
D’Angelo Russell three-team trade: Timberwolves trade grade
The Timberwolves were in a position in which they were about to lose Russell to free agency for nothing. Luckily for them, the Lakers were looking for a guard to bring in a guard for their playoff push, and thus was willing to give up assets.
While it’s unknown what the Timberwolves are getting exactly in the deal in terms of draft capital, they will be receiving Conley from the Jazz. This would reunite him with his former Jazz teammate in Rudy Gobert. As ESPN’s Tim MacMahon points out, the two build good chemistry with one another.
This season, Conley is averaging 10.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 40.8-percent from the field and 36.2-percent from the three-point line.
Timberwolves trade grade: C+