NBA Trade Grade: Lakers, Wolves get new PGs; Russell Westbrook is free

The Los Angeles Lakers get a breath of fresh air

In all honesty, I actually like this move from the Los Angeles Lakers. If nothing else, the Lakers successfully retooled their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. And you have to applaud the front office for doing so without having to part ways with both of their trade-eligible future first-round picks.

It’s not a home run of a trade, unless the Lakers truly make a move up the Western Conference standings during the push toward the playoffs, but it’s a move that will at least move the needle somewhat for the fan base.

This team still has plenty to prove but things are looking up for the team heading into the final stretch of the season. With D’Angelo Russell, Malike Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Lakers have three contributors that should fit well with this roster. And, perhaps more than anything, this move gives the team depth it didn’t have.

The big question is how well this team can gel together. If they can do so fairly quickly, perhaps this is a team that can climb into the top 6 in the Western Conference standings.

Grade B