Westbrook traded as Lakers shake up roster with blockbuster eight-player trade between three teams

The LA Lakers have traded Russell Westbook as part of a massive trade on the day before the NBA deadline with the former MVP dealt to Utah.

LeBron James has got his wish with the Lakers overhauling their roster, welcoming Minnesota point guard D’Angelo Russell back to the franchise as well as Jazz duo Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The Jazz are getting Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones from the Lakers to make the salaries match as well as their 2027 first-round draft pick.

Veteran guard Mike Conley replaces Russell at the Timberwolves, who also receive young prospect Nickeil Alexander-Walker and three second-round picks as part of the deal.

James, 38, has been agitating for the Lakers to make a deal and Westbrook was on the outer with the team as he was nowhere near giving value for money in the final year of his max contract.

The Lakers are mired in 13th spot at 25-30 in the Western Conference after their 133-130 loss to Oklahoma City.

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LeBron James and Russell Westbrook failed to click in LA. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

They are struggling to gain any ground as they attempt to avoid the humiliation of missing the playoffs for a second straight season.

James, who now sits on 38,390 points, surpassed the all-time scoring mark held since April 1984 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who watched the game from a baseline seat near the Lakers’ bench. Abdul-Jabbar then joined a clearly emotional James and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the court after the historic basket.