Full details each Lakers trades:
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
With the Lakers' roster being a not-so-great fit before Thursday’s trade deadline, it was only obvious that changes were to be made, making major moves that could change the course of their season for the better.
The first big trade came on Thursday, with the Lakers acquiring the Timberwolves’ point guard D’Angelo Russell and the Jazz’s shooting guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, trading Russell Westbrook and a top-four protected first-round pick to the Jazz along with Juan Tascano-Anderson and Damian Jones to the Timberwolves.
For the Timberwolves, D’Angelo Russell averaged 17.9 points a game, shooting 39% from three and 46.5% overall, while averaging 6.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game.
For the Jazz, Malik Beasley averaged 13.4 points a game, shooting 35.9% from three and 39.6% overall, while averaging 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
A known defensive specialist at 6'8, Jarred Vanderbilt is averaging 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
After countless trade talks and drama surrounding Westbrook over the past two seasons, the Lakers were finally able to put to bed a trade that didn't fit from the start. In his tenure in Los Angeles, Westbrook took the criticism to the extreme, taking all that came with it with professionalism, with many fans forgetting that at the end of the day, players are humans too. This split was the best thing for both sides, with the Lakers finding better fits and the possibility of Westbrook getting bought out by Utah, freeing him to sign with a team he sees as the best fit for him and his family.
The Lakers' next trade involved center Thomas Bryant, trading him to the Denver Nuggets for Davon Reed and three second-round picks (Nuggets’ 2025, 2026, and 2029). It was reported after the trade that Bryant wanted more minutes, either alongside Anthony Davis or elsewhere, as his minutes had dropped since Davis' return.
The Lakers received the Nuggets' 2025, 2026, and 2029’s second-round picks.
Playing an average of 9.0 minutes a game this season for the Nuggets, Davon Reed averaged 2.3 points a game, shooting 36.4% from three and 31.3% overall.
The Lakers then flipped one of the three second-round picks they acquired in the Thomas Bryant trade in their final trade before the deadline, trading Patrick Beverly and a second-round pick (Denver’s) to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba.
For the Magic, Mo Bamba averaged 7.3 points a game, shooting 39.8% from three and 49.5% overall, while averaging 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game.
The Lakers' new roster after the trade deadline:
PG’s: D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder
SG’s: Austin Reaves, Malik Beasly, Lonnie Walker IV, Davon Reed
SF’s: LeBron James, Troy Brown Jr., Max Christie
PF’s: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt
C’s: Anthony Davis, Mo Bamba, Wenyen Gabriel
Note: The Lakers still have one roster spot open, possibly for a player in the buyout market.
