Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Mike Conley Jr., F Bojan Bogdanovic, G/F Malik Beasley
Utah Jazz Receive: G Russell Westbrook, F Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick (Top-5 Protected)
This hypothetical trade is one that both teams benefit from based on the direction that they are heading. The Los Angeles Lakers want to get back to being competitive as soon as possible, while the Utah Jazz are heading into a rebuilding stage.
Utah has already compiled some nice assets, as they acquired five first-round picks when they traded Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets and Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Walker Kessler and Jarred Vanderbilt are two young guys that were also acquired that can be a part of the process and they add more in this deal with the Lakers.
Talen Horton-Tucker is only 21 years old and fits the new timeline that the Jazz are on. Playing without the pressure of contending will help him develop his intriguing skill set. The draft capital is what Utah wants most as they receive one unprotected pick and one top-five protected selection.
That is mostly compensation for taking on Russell Westbrook and his contract. The Lakers are desperate to move him and pony up a premium asking price, surrendering their best assets in the process.
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Heading to Los Angeles are three players that instantly upgrade their rotation in Mike Conley Jr., Bojan Bogdanovic and Malik Beasley. All three can vie for a starting spot or help bolster the second unit, lengthening the rotation. Since Beasley was traded once this offseason, he cannot be traded again aggregate with other players until August 30th.
How does this deal impact each team? Let’s take a look at it from both of their perspectives, starting with the Lakers.
