Report: Start date for 2020-21 NBA season to be decided this week

The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring the point guard market and have engaged the Minnesota Timberwolves on a deal for D’Angelo Russell, reported Adrian Wojnarowski on NBA Today.

Russell is on an expiring contract and has only had tepid discussions on an extension with the Wolves.

The Lakers previously pursued a trade for Kyrie Irving and have also been linked with a trade for Mike Conley as they search for a point guard.

Russell was drafted by the Lakers in 2015 and traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017.

Shams Charania and Tony Jones of The Athletic report that the Utah Jazz are involved in the talks with the Lakers and Wolves with Conley going to Minnesota. The Jazz would take on Westbrook and receive draft compensation. Utah is widely expected to buyout or waive Westbrook if they acquire him at the deadline.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo reports that various versions of these discussions have included Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt also going to the Lakers.

Luka Doncic could have signed a five-year, $345 million supermax contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks and had every intention of doing so and remaining with the franchise long-term.

“I know in talking to people around Luka Doncic over the past 72 hours, I was at that Lakers-Clippers game on Sunday, he had no intention of ever leaving Dallas,” said Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show. “He had just bought a new home in Dallas for a lofty, lofty price. He did not want to go anywhere.

“You think of a player coming from abroad. They are very committed. They are loyal. That’s how he viewed himself with the Mavericks. One team, one city, forever. I think that’s going to carry over to the Lakers. I think he’s loving his time in L.A.”

This offseason on August 2nd, Doncic becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Lakers for as much as $229 million over five years. Doncic can also sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a player option for 28-29 to coincide with his 10 years of service when he can sign at the 35 percent max.