Russell Westbrook’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers may be coming to an end.
According to Shams Charania of the Athletic and Stadium, the Lakers are discussing a three-team that would send Westbrook to the Utah Jazz.
Later Wednesday he added that, per his sources, the three teams are “finalizing trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles, Russell Westbrook and first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. and second-round pick compensation to Minnesota.”
TNT and Bleacher Report senior NBA insider Chris Haynes reports Westbrook would likely be bought out by the Jazz, if the deal is completed. A buyout would make the nine-time NBA All-Star a free agent, and allow him to sign with any team.
News of the potential three-team deal surfaced hours after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Westbrook and Lakers head coach Darvin Ham got into a “brief, heated verbal exchange” during halftime of LeBron James’ historic game against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.
In the wake of the very real possibility of Westbrook’s imminent departure, NBA fans took to Twitter to reflect on his tenure with the Lakers:
