NBA Trade Deadline Grades: Suns land KD, Lakers get a puncher’s chance in West

The Lakers, Jazz, and Wolves make a big swap

At least on paper, I don’t hate this move for the Lakers. I believe they needed to reshuffle their roster and this move successfully does that for the Lakers. They get a point guard that will immediately help with spacing, a shooting wing, and a big that will help take some of the pressure off of Anthony Davis.

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, it’s somewhat disappointing that they got so little for D’Angelo Russell. But they also swapped in a new point guard which was one of their reported goals heading into the trade deadline. So they at least get a passing grade.

The Utah Jazz gets the draft compensation that they were probably looking for while trading away veterans that were never going to be considered as part of their long-term future with the team. It’s an interesting swap for all three teams that we must wait and see how it all plays out.

Lakers: B

Wolves: C+ 

Jazz: B-