Los Angeles Lakers acquires Russell Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the No. 22 pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

The Wizards are sending 2024, and 2028 second-round picks to the Lakers to complete the deal, sources said.

The Wizards took the No. 22 pick and spun it to the Indiana Pacers for point guard Aaron Holiday, the younger brother of Team USA member and current NBA champion Jrue Holiday. With that pick, the Pacers took Kentucky forward Isaiah Jackson.

Harrell opted into his $9.7 million player option for next season earlier Thursday, paving the way for the Westbrook trade.

Russell Westbrook will join LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Co. in Los Angeles, giving the team a nine-time All-Star point guard. Westbrook, who turns 33 in November, has averaged a triple-double in a season four times in his career, including this past season. He gives the Lakers two of the top five players in career triple-doubles: Westbrook has 184, James 99.

The Lakers will be Westbrook’s fourth team in as many seasons. He will be the fifth former MVP to play for four different franchises in a span of four seasons or fewer, joining Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Derrick Rose.

The Wizards had acquired Westbrook from the Rockets last December as part of the John Wall deal. In his first and only season in Washington, he averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists, although he shot just 43.9% from the floor and 31.5% from 3.

While the trade can’t officially be announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official, Westbrook penned a goodbye to D.C. on social media Thursday night.