Reinforcements are coming for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. In the wake of striking out on Kyrie Irving and disappointing LeBron James, the Lakers acquired D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in a three-team deal Wednesday, per multiple reports. The Timberwolves will net guards Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the move. The Jazz will receive Russell Westbrook and a 2027 first-round pick from Los Angeles, which is protected from picks 1–4. Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damion Jones will also head to Utah, while Minnesota also receives three second-round picks. Let’s grade this deal for all sides.
Lakers: C+
After months of speculation and angst surrounding both Westbrook and their future first-round picks, the Lakers’ initial return is more competent than exciting. On one hand, adding three rotation players to a roster starved for depth at the price of an oft-destructive point guard and a protected first is very good work. On the other hand, the players they’re adding are a mixed bag. Russell is having a fantastic shooting season. At the same time, he’s a minus defender who was benched at times during Minnesota’s most recent playoff run, and his team performed much better with him on the bench this year. (Notably, the Wolves performed better in Anthony Edwards’s solo periods than his minutes with D-Lo.) While Russell and Beasley both address the Lakers’ shooting need, Los Angeles is still bereft of serious options on the wing. Who is supposed to guard the likes of Kawhi Leonard or Luka Doncic in a playoff series? And Russell is not someone you want matched up with Stephen Curry, Jamal Murray or Ja Morant.
