Russell Westbrook’s stint with the Washington Wizards is over after just one year as the superstar point guard and former MVP has been traded to his hometown team Los Angeles Lakers.
Westbrook will now form an impressive Big Three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In exchange, the Lakers shipped out Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The teams also exchanged draft picks as the Lakers since this year’s No. 22 and received the 2024 and 2028 second-round picks from The Wizards.
According to The Athletic, after receiving the No. 22 the Wizards flipped it for Aaron Holiday to assist with the point guard position. To ensure the trade happened, Harrell opted in to his $9.7 million plater option.
The Lakers, who were notable in need of a point guard, now receive one of the best of all time and gives the purple and gold two of the top five players in career triple-doubles. Westbrook has 185 and James 99.
Following the trade news, Westbrook hit Instagram with a special message to fans of the Wizards.
“Thank you DC! You welcomed my family and I with open arms from day one,” he wrote. “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.”
In his Instagram story, Westbrook shared a post from James that already had him in the purple and gold walking on the court with James and Davis.
