D’Angelo Russell trade: Grades for Lakers, Timberwolves, Jazz
LOS ANGELES (BVM) — For a typical trade deadline, a deal involving D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook and Mike Conley would be the clear blockbuster. But not this year.
Nonetheless, the Lakers get Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, Minnesota receives Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 2024, 2025 and 2026 second-round picks, and the Jazz land Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and a 2027 first-round pick.
For the most part, this trade works out for everybody.
Here are the grades for each team from the move.
Los Angeles Lakers: B+
Did the Lakers get better with this trade? Definitely. Did they drastically improve their chances to make a deep playoff run? Probably not. Everyone is excited about Russell’s return to Los Angeles, but is he really a good fit? He typically needs the ball in his hands to be effective, so he may become a glorified sixth man with the Lakers. That is without mentioning that he is typically the worst defender on the court at all times.
The real prize for the Lakers is Malik Beasley. While Russell will likely be gone after the season ends, it is hard to imagine that Los Angeles will not jump at the opportunity to pick up Beasley’s 16.5 million dollar team option. Beasley is shooting 36% from 3, which is on the lower end of his career numbers. He’s a great 3-and-D option for the Lakers and one they will want to keep around next year. Vanderbilt is also a great asset to add on his team–friendly deal.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B
On the surface, this may look like an odd trade for Minnesota. But Russell is a free agent at the end of the year. If you have no interest in bringing him back, why not get some value out of him? Conley may not be the player he once was, but you could argue that he is a better fit for the Timberwolves offense than Russell is. The main goal should be to run the offense through Anthony Edwards and Conley is better to complement the young star.
The Timberwolves also get a young player in 24-year-old Walker who will be a restricted free agent this offseason. While they are just second-round picks, any type of draft asset is welcome for Minnesota who sent a majority of their picks to Utah in the Rudy Gobert trade. Maybe the Timberwolves could combine these picks to trade into the first round at some point.
Utah Jazz: B+
Where on Earth will the Lakers be in 2027? It is a question that the Jazz are more than excited to find out. The pick is top-four protected and considering the Lakers are all in at the moment, that protection may be notable. Danny Ainge has loaded up on future firsts, but this pick may wind up being the most coveted of them all.
Westbrook is already rumored for a buyout with many teams as suitors. Toscano-Anderson will be a free agent this offseason and Jones has a player option, so it is very possible that neither will return following the season. All the Jazz were worried about was accumulating more draft assets and they did just that.
