Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal

In essence, the Lakers are paying for a slight bump in three-point percentage here.

It’s not a massive one. D’Angelo Russell is not one of the most devastating three-point shooters in the NBA. He is, on the other hand, a credible threat to knock down open looks. For that reason alone, he’s an upgrade for the Lakers as it stands.

After all, Westbrook is not. That’s virtually the only reason for this deal. With that said: it’s reason enough.

Having a floor-spacing point guard alongside LeBron James could be critical to their success. In fact, Westbrook’s inability to complement James last season was one of the major reasons for the team’s disappointing season.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers, D’Angelo Russell & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates

Furthermore, Russell’s secondary playmaking means the Lakers won’t miss out on too much ball-handling. In short, it ought to be comfortably worth the tradeoff. Is it worth the Timberwolves’ time here?