Russell Westbrook trade

Pacers acquire

• Russell Westbrook

• 2027 LAL top 5 protected first round pick

• 2025 LAL second round pick

• 2028 LAL/ORL second round pick swap

Lakers acquire

• T.J. McConnell

• Buddy Hield

Markelle Fultz trade

Magic acquire

• Kendrick Nunn

• Talen Horton-Tucker

• 2023 CHI second round pick

• 2024 MEM or WAS second round pick

Lakers acquire

• Markelle Fultz

LeBron James extension

• Lakers re-sign LeBron James to a 2-yr/$97 mil contract extension starting the 2023-24 season, making his current contract 3-yr/$141 million- which would expire after the 2024-25 season, when he will be 40 years old

Lakers starting lineup

1. PG Markelle Fultz

2. SG Buddy Hield

3. SF LeBron James

4. PF Anthony Davis

5. C Damian Jones

Lakers bench

1. PG T.J. McConnell

2. SG Lonnie Walker IV

3. SF Austin Reaves

4. PF Stanley Johnson

5. C Thomas Bryant

Why do the Lakers make these moves?

• LA acquires Hield and McConnell to provide great shooting and playmaking respectively, as well as finally offloading Russell Westbrook on the last year of his deal. Although it sucks that they have to add draft compensation to offload Russ, he is an atrocious fit on this roster and getting players like TJ and Buddy that fit significant better is huge for this team.

• The Lakers also acquire Markelle Fultz to replace Russ as starting PG. He has high upside and he can provide playmaking and occasional shooting for a team that needs both, while giving up two lower assets in Kendrick Nunn, who didn't play at all for the Lakers last season, as well as THT, who is a bad fit on the Lakers and could break out on a young Magic team, plus two second round picks.

• Lastly, the Lakers extend LeBron James for two more seasons to lock him up until 2025. The Lakers don't have control of any of their picks until 2025, so locking up LeBron to remain competitive and to attract free agents to LA should very much be in the best interest of the Lakers. As long as the duo of LeBron and AD are together, the Lakers will have a shot of being competitive. All the Lakers need are solid complementary pieces that fit well next to the dynamic duo, and they will be all set.