Just under 24 hours before Thursday’s 2 p.m. CT trade deadline the Minnesota Timberwolves may be on the verge of sending D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers as part of a three-team trade also involving the Utah Jazz, with point guard Mike Conley being sent to Minnesota.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the three-way deal would send Russell to Los Angeles, Conley to Minnesota and Russell Westbrook and draft compensation to Utah.
The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023
“Ongoing discussions have included Utah’s Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said. Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too, per sources,” Charania added.
Here’s how Russell and Conley compare this season:
- Russell: 17.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.7 TOV
- Conley: 10.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 TOV
Russell’s usage rate if way higher than Conley, who is averaging just 8.7 shots per game this season. But Russell has been a better overall shooter (46.5% to 40.8%) and 3-point shooter (39.1% to 36.2%). Russell is averaging one more turnover per game, however.
Conley, 35, has 15 years of experience in the NBA, including the past three seasons with Rudy Gobert in Utah before Gobert was traded to Minnesota last summer.
Conley carries a $22.6 million cap hit this season and is signed through next season for an additional $24.3 million. Russell is making $31.3 million this season and is set to become a free agent.
NBA insider Chris Haynes says Westbrook would likely be bought out by the Jazz if the trade materializes.
In three-team deal being discussed between Lakers, Wolves and Jazz, a buyout for Russell Westbrook in Utah would be the likely path, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 8, 2023
This is a developing story.
