Day: February 9, 2023

The Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls will be two of the teams with interest in Russell Westbrook should he secure a buyout with the Utah Jazz.

The Clippers have an uncertain situation at point guard and have been looking to upgrade the position at the trade deadline.

Westbrook is a Los Angeles native and remaining in the area figures to be important to him.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz have agreed to a three-team trade.

The Lakers will acquire D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt while sending out Russell Westbrook, a lightly protected 2027 first round pick, Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson to the Jazz. The first round pick from the Lakers to Utah in 2027 is protected 1-to-4 and will convert to a 2027 second round pick if it does not convey. The Lakers have no other picks encumbered by trading this selection to Utah.

The Wolves will acquire Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a second round pick from the Lakers.

The Jazz will acquire Westbrook, who will be bought out as well as the 2027 first rounder from the Lakers. Westbrook had been on the trade block for several months with the Lakers scouring the market for ways to use his expiring contract to upgrade their roster.

Russell is on an expiring contract and can sign an extension for up to $67.5 million over two years. Russell is represented by Aaron Mintz and Austin Brown of CAA.

The Lakers have team options on Beasley and Vanderbilt.

The Brooklyn Nets may be coming off their position that they unequivocally won’t trade Kevin Durant, which is a change from their posture last offseason. Brooklyn’s position appears to have changed following the trade request of Kyrie Irving. While Durant and the Nets are discussing their future together, a trade could still be more likely in the offseason than at the trade deadline.

“Now that Kyrie has been traded, maybe the Nets’ position on not trading Durant as it really was kind of last summer may change,” said Brian Windhorst. “That is an interesting development that has happened over the last 48 hours since the Kyrie trade from people that I’ve talked to.”

When Durant requested a trade last offseason, he had the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat atop his list. The Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans were three other franchises widely considered as having the necessary assets to trade for Durant.

Durant has three more seasons remaining on his contract with the Nets.

What Durant is thinking about his situation is one of the biggest questions in the league that remains largely unknown.