Involve Los Angeles Lakers As Third Team
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F/C Julius Randle, G Mike Conley, G/F Cam Reddish
Utah Jazz Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2023 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2023 First-Round Pick (DAL via NYK), 2025 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2027 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
New York Knicks Receive: G Donovan Mitchell
While the last deal rested on Barrett’s potentially ambiguous value, this one comes down to your perception of Julius Randle.
Evaluating him isn’t easy. In 2020-21, Randle was an All-NBA superstar. Unfortunately, he followed up his Most Improved Player winning season with a stinker in 2021-22. If the Knicks are willing to write that up as the aberration, this deal may not work for them – they’d be trading Mitchell’s co-star in the process of acquiring him.
On the other hand, if they think last year’s performance was closer to Randle’s norm, they won’t hesitate here. In that event, they’d need the Lakers to put stock in his 2020-21 performance. With that said, they may be desperate enough to improve next year to do so.
Meanwhile, this deal is all about the draft capital for the Jazz. They’ll likely buy Westbrook out, or simply sit him for the year.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, New York Knicks & Utah Jazz Updates
In either event, they’ll have no incentive to afford playing time to an expensive veteran – After all, if they make this deal, they won’t be in a position to do so for quite some time.
