On January 24, according to the report of the US media Fadeaway World, sources revealed that the Lakers intend to trade D'Angelo Russell with Russell Westbrook and timberwolves.
The Lakers are reportedly interested in trading Timberwolf players D'Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley with Westbrook's 2027 first-round picks. For the Lakers, the deal not only sends Westbrook off a big contract, but also complements Russell and Beverley, two defenders who are more suitable to play next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. For the Timberwolves, Westbrook's organizational skills are better suited to playing around Anthony Carl Downs and Anthony Edwards than Russell.
So far this season, Wei Shao has played in 47 games for the Lakers, averaging 34.9 minutes per game, can get 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 4.1 turnovers, shooting 43.7%, shooting 29.6% from three-points, and shooting 67.3% from the free throw line, of which the average of points, rebounds, assists and shooting per game has declined compared with last season, and the number of turnovers is as high as the third in the league.
Westbrook and the Lakers are not compatible this season, the Lakers in order to adapt to Westbrook, forced to change the team many times to let James as a center to play five small lineups, but the effect is not ideal, the Lakers' current record is 23 wins and 24 losses, only ranked eighth in the East, which is unacceptable for the Lakers who are determined to win the championship at the beginning of the season. In the previous game against the Pacers, Westbrook was replaced by head coach Frank Vogel in the final moments of the fourth quarter and was subjected to snow.
It is worth mentioning that Westbrook's contract will expire at the end of next season, and his salary this season is $44.21 million, and next season it is $47.06 million.
According to previous reports, if the additional chips are appropriate, the Rockets intend to take over The Westbrook's contract.
![The Timberwolves scored three straight wins by three Wolves combined to score 70 points Dort's 18-point Thunder home defeat[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)