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D'Angelo Russell is headed back to the LA Lakers as the point guard was acquired in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Lakers will send Russell Westbrook and a lightly protected first-round pick to the Jazz, while also acquiring Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. Utah will send Mike Conley and a second-round pick to Minnesota.
"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," Charania tweeted.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added:
"Also in deal: Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones to Jazz, Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Timberwolves, sources said."
"The Lakers' 2027 first-round pick to the Jazz is protected 1-to-4, source tells ESPN."
Russell spent the first two seasons of his career with the LA Lakers after they made him the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. He broke out as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, where he was named to the 2018-2019 All-Star Team.
How have the LA Lakers' latest acquisitions fared this season?
The acquisition of D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt instantly improves the LA Lakers, particularly at 3-point shooting and defense, two areas in which they have struggled tremendously. The Lakers currently rank 29th in 3-pointers made and 28th in opponents points per game.
Russell is the biggest name in the deal and he is currently averaging 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field, 39.1% from 3-point range and 85.6% from the free-throw line. The eighth-year guard is currently 12th in the NBA with 148 3-pointers made.
Beasley has been even better from behind the arc as he is currently seventh in the league with 169 3-pointers made. The seventh-year guard is averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting 39.6% from the field, 35.9% from 3-point range and 84.1% from the free-throw line.
Vanderbilt may be the least well-known of the three players heading to LA, however, he has been a strong defender and rebounder. The fifth-year power forward is averaging 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 55.6% from the field.
