Russell Westbrook‘s days as a Laker have come to an end — L.A. just finalized a trade to send the superstar point guard to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers are sending Russ and a 2027 first-round pick (1-4 protected) to the Jazz in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt, according to Shams Charania.
Meanwhile, Utah’s Mike Conley Jr. will join Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert in Minnesota … as well as a second-round pick.
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.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023
@ShamsCharania
The Lakers acquired Russ in 2021 in a trade with the Wizards … which sent Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Washington in exchange for the 2017 MVP.
Westbrook’s last game with the Purple and Gold was Tuesday night against the Thunder … when LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Russ’ tenure with the Lakers had its fair share of ups and downs — the former triple-double machine struggled to find his role during his two years playing alongside James and Anthony Davis.
First-year head coach Darvin Ham decided to bring Westbrook off the bench three games into this season … a role he’s flourished in, averaging 15.9 points per game to accompany 7.5 assists per game.
Westbrook has a legitimate case to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, but the Lakers are opting to move in a different direction … despite his steady production with the team’s second unit.
There are reports Westbrook’s arrival in Utah will end in a buy-out … which will allow him to join a team elsewhere.
Russ — who picked up the $47.1 million on his contract before the season started — has played for the Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, and Lakers in his career … and is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.