Lakers trading Westbrook to Utah
The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Russell Westbrook to Utah and reacquiring guard D'Angelo Russell from Minnesota in a three-team, eight-player deal, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn't announced the major deal made ahead of the NBA's trade deadline Thursday.
Los Angeles is also getting guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz, bolstering its core around LeBron James in a bid to jump-start its sputtering season. The Lakers fell to 25-30 on Tuesday while James set the NBA's career scoring record, and they sit in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference.
The Lakers are sending Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and their first-round pick in 2027 to Utah with Westbrook.
ESPN and The Athletic first reported the trade. Those outlets also said Minnesota is getting Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Utah, along with three secondround picks.
MLB TUCKER, ASTROS GO TO SALARY ARBITRATION WITH $2.5M GAP >>
All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker went to salary arbitration with the World Series champion Houston Astros, asking for $7.5 million rather than the team's $5 million offer.
The $2.5 million gap matched the largest among 33 players who exchanged proposed salaries with their teams last month. The case was heard by John Stout, Fredric Horowitz and Jules Bloch, who are holding their decision until after additional cases.
Tucker, 26, hit .257 with 30 homers, a career-best 107 RBIs and 25 stolen bases last year after batting .294 with 30 homers and 92 RBIs in 2021. He
had a $764,200 salary last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Astros right-hander Cristian Javier remains scheduled for a hearing. Also eligible for the first time, Javier has asked for a raise from $749,100 to $3.5 million and has been offered $3 million.
WNBA WNBA INVESTIGATING HAMBY'S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ACES >>
The WNBA is investigating Dearica Hamby's allegations that the Las Vegas Aces bullied and manipulated her for being pregnant, the league said in a statement.
It was the first time the league acknowledged it was looking into the situation. The players' union had pushed for an inquiry into whether Hamby's rights under the league's 2020 labor agreement were violated, as well as state and federal laws.
Hamby made her allegations after being traded Jan. 21 to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Aces were trying to clear up salarycap room to sign two-time MVP Candace Parker, who agreed to a deal Jan. 28.
Tennis INDIAN WELLS ENTRIES INCLUDE INJURED NADAL, DJOKOVIC >>
Two of the biggest names on the men's entry list for the BNP Paribas Open are unlikely to play in the Southern California tournament.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were injured during the Australian Open last month, and Djokovic's COVID-19 vaccination status also is still an issue for the tournament that runs March 6-19 at Indian Wells.
Djokovic, a five-time winner in the desert, missed last year's tournament because of his vaccination status. The U.S. is set to end its COVID emergency declarations on May 11, long after the tournament concludes.
Djokovic won the Australian Open last month for his 22nd career major despite being bothered by a left hamstring injury. He returned to No. 1 in the world rankings.