Lakers deal Russell Westbrook, load up in three-team deal

The Lakers bring back D'Angelo Russell, who they selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. They also add outside shooting with Mailk Beasley (38 percent three-point shooter for his career) and rebounding with the athletic Jarred Vanderbilt (11.8 rebounds per 36 minutes for his career). Perhaps the most important element is adding financial flexibility beyond this year.

Expiring contracts can be valuable in the NBA, but Westbrook's $47 million deal was almost too massive for the Lakers. Los Angeles could have cleared near-maximum cap space for a free agent this summer, but once they traded for Rui Hachimura, it became clear that they're planning to operate above the salary cap.

Now they have Beasley on a non-guaranteed $16.5 million deal for next season, Vanderbilt on a bargain $4.6 million deal, and they have matching rights on Hachimura. If they want to keep Russell long-term, they have his Bird rights, meaning they can go over the cap to sign him. They can also extend him before the end of June.

The Lakers also finally dealt one their future first-round picks, which had taken on legendary status throughout a year of trade rumors. The 2017 first-rounder is protected for picks 1-4, quite a coup for Utah president Danny Ainge. He got four first-round picks and a pick swap when he dealt Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. Now, for two of the players he got back in that deal (Beasley and Vanderbilt) and the cost of Westbrook's inevitable buyout, Ainge gets another first-rounder.

For Minnesota, they traded Russell when it looked like they might lose him for nothing in free agency this summer. Instead, they've reunited former Utah teammates Conley and Gobert, getting the benefit of an extra year of team control with Conley.

The Jazz will also pick up little-used Lakers veterans Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson, while Minnesota gets Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Walker-Alexander wasn't playing much in a crowded Utah backcourt, but he's a 24-year-old shooting over 40 percent from outside — the Timberwolves should be able to use him.

All in all, this deal accomplishes Lakers goals of getting LeBron help and setting themselves up for next year. And with Patrick Beverley's contract and the 2029 first-round pick still available, the Lake Show might not be done dealing yet.