Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, F Josh Okogie

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick

Lakers fans of faith, you should be praying for this trade to happen. For non-believing supporters, find some wood and knock on it.

Not to say that D’Angelo Russell is a perfect basketball player in his own right. He’s not. That’s largely why he’s been on four teams over his seven seasons in the NBA.

Still, he’s a vastly superior floor-spacer than Russ: which is to say, he’s roughly average.

The Lakers will take it. This year was an abject disaster. They’d have to do whatever it took to improve with James approaching retirement.

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Timberwolves fans probably won’t love this trade. That’s understandable. In 2022, Westbrook’s name is practically a curse word.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t good reasons for them to take it.