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Washington Wizards Trade Russell Westbrook to LA Lakers for Players and Pickv
Introduction
On Thursday, July 29th, 2021 the Washington Wizards agree to terms to trade the former NBA MVP and 9 – time NBA All – Star point guard, Russell Westbrook, their second – round pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, and their second – round selection of the 2028 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers. In exchange the Los Angeles Lakers are sending the Washington Wizards power forward Kyle Kuzma, center / power forward Montrezl Harrell, shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell – Pope, and the number 22 overall pick in the first – round of the 2021 NBA Draft which took place last night. This blockbuster NBA trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards will not be officially announced until Friday, August 6th, 2021 when the free agency period of the National Basketball Association formerly begins.
The Washington Wizards eventually ended up trading that number 22 overall pick in the first – round of the 2021 NBA Draft to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for point guard Aaron Holiday. Holiday is the younger brother of Jrue Holiday who just won the NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks this past season of the National Basketball Association, and Jrue is currently playing with Team USA in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The Indiana Pacers selected Isaiah Jackson with that number 22 overall pick in the first – round of the 2021 NBA Draft that occurred yesterday evening (Thursday, July 29, 2021). Jackson is a 6 – foot 10 – inch and 206 – pound forward who excelled at the University of Kentucky while playing for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats from 2020 to 2021.
Failed Trade Agreement
This recent 4 – player NBA blockbuster trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards came just after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to agree to terms on a trade in order to acquire Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Kuzma and Harrell. That deal happened to fall apart earlier in the day on Thursday, July 29th, 2021.
The Los Angeles Lakers were striving to obtain a great shooter during this 2021 NBA offseason, and that is why they were pursuing a trade to get Hield from the Sacramento Kings. Look for the Los Angeles Lakers to work on acquiring a pure shooter in order to help LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook on their star – studded offensive attack that they have now assembled.
Russell Westbrook
The Washington Wizards previously had acquired Westbrook from the Houston Rockets in December of 2020 in part of a trade for John Wall. The 6 – foot 3 – inch and 200 – pound point guard played with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 to 2019, the Houston Rockets from 2019 to 2020, the Washington Wizards in 2020, and now he joins the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 NBA season. Westbrook now becomes only the fifth former NBA MVP in the all – time history of the National Basketball Association to play for 4 different NBA franchises over the course of 4 seasons or less. The other four NBA greats that have done that are Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, and Derrick Rose.
During his one and only year with the Washington Wizards for the 2020 – 2021 NBA season Westbrook averaged 22.2 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game, and 11.7 assists per game. Russell is a triple – double machine. He has averaged a triple – double over the course of an NBA season 4 times throughout his illustrious NBA career which includes the last NBA season that he spent with the Washington Wizards. Westbrook has averaged 23.2 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 8.5 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, and 0.3 blocks per game throughout his 13 – year career in the NBA.
Westbrook has accomplished so much throughout his complete basketball career in college at UCLA as well as in the National Basketball Association. Russell’s basketball career achievements, honors, and awards include: NBA Most Valuable Player in 2017, 9 – time NBA All – Star in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, 2 – time NBA All – Star Game MVP in 2015 and 2016, 2 – time All – NBA First Team in 2016 and 2017, 5 – time All – NBA Second Team in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018, 2 – time All – NBA Third Team in 2019 and 2020, 2 – time NBA scoring champion in 2015 and 2017, 3 – time NBA assists leader in 2018, 2019, and 2021, NBA All – Rookie First Team in 2009, Third – Team All – Pac – 10 in 2008, Pac – 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, and Pac – 10 All – Defensive Team in 2008.
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma is a 6 – foot 10 – inch and 221 – pound power forward that played his NCAA college basketball at the University of Utah with the Utes from 2014 to 2017. Kyle was selected with the 27th overall pick in the first – round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on the day he was drafted, and he played with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2017 to 2021. Kuzma now joins the Washington Wizards for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 NBA season.
Over the course of his NBA career Kyle Kuzma has averaged 15.2 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 0.6 steals per game, and 0.5 blocks per game. Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers Kyle averaged 12.9 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game. Over his basketball career Kuzma has achieved these accomplishments, honors, and awards: NBA champion in 2020, NBA All – Rookie First Team in 2018, and
First – Team All – Pac – 12 in 2017.
Montrezl Harrell
This 6 – foot 7 – inch and 240 – pound center / power forward played his NCAA college basketball at the University of Louisville for the Cardinals from 2012 to 2015. Harrell was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 32nd overall pick in the second – round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Montrezl played for the Houston Rockets from 2015 to 2017, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G – League) from 2015 to 2016, the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017 to 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers from 2020 to 2021, and now he joins the Washington Wizards for the quickly approaching 2021 – 2022 NBA season.
Harrell has averaged 12.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game over the course of his NBA career. Last season while playing with the Los Angeles Lakers Montrezl averaged 13.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game. Over his basketball career Harrell has compiled these achievements, honors, and awards: NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2020, NBA Hustle Award in 2020, NCAA college basketball champion in 2013, Karl Malone Award in 2015, Second – Team All – ACC in 2015, First – Team All – AAC in 2014, and he was named the AAC Most Improved Player in 2014.
Kentavious Caldwell – Pope
Caldwell – Pope is a 6 – foot 5 – inch and 204 – pound shooting guard. He played college basketball as the University of Georgia for the Bulldogs from 2011 to 2013. Kentavious was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 8th overall pick in the first – round of the 2013 NBA Draft. He has played for the Detroit Pistons from 2013 to 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers from 2017 to 2021, and he now joins the Washington Wizards for the 2021 – 2022 NBA season.
Kentavious Caldwell – Pope has averaged 11.4 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game over the course of his 8 – year NBA career. Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers Caldwell – Pope averaged 9.7 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game. Throughout his basketball career Kentavious’ achievements, honors, and awards include: NBA champion in 2020, SEC Player of the Year in 2013, First – Team All – SEC in 2013, SEC All – Freshman Team in 2012, and he was a McDonald's All – American in 2011.
Media Statements
"Thank you DC! You welcomed my family and I with open arms from day one," the former point guard of the Washington Wizards and the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Russell Westbrook, wrote on Instagram. "Everyone from the front office, to the training staff, the coaches, my teammates, and the fans. I'm grateful y'all took a chance on me and supported me every step of the way. I'm blessed to have been a part of such a stand – up organization. It didn't take long to make a home in DC, and I will forever be grateful and appreciative of my experience with the organization. Thank you! #thedistrict."
Sources:
“Los Angeles Lakers reach deal to acquire Russell Westbrook, sending 3-player package and pick to Washington Wizards”, espn.com, July 29, 2021.
“Russell Westbrook”, basketball-reference.com, July 30, 2021.
“Kyle Kuzma”, basketball-reference.com, July 30, 2021.
“Montrezl Harrell”, basketball-reference.com, July 30, 2021.
“Kentavious Caldwell – Pope”, basketball-reference.com, July 30, 2021.