Photo Credit: AP / Mark J. Terrill
The date is June 20th. The time is 5:09 PM. Woj just dropped his first bomb of the NBA offseason. This is a special annual tradition in NBA culture, think Groundhog's day. Woj holds the title of being the most interesting part of the NBA offseason, and he lived up to that title today by dropping the news of the Lakers-Nets trade. The Lakers traded D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov for the Nets' Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick in the upcoming draft. Trades usually have winners and losers, but this one has no immediate results just possible scenarios.
Scenario 1 (Win-Win)
Via/Bleacher Report
Paul George wasn't involved in this trade, but this trade had Paul George written all over it. The Lakers shed $54 million total with Mosgov gone, and get an expiring Brook Lopez contract. That leaves the Lakers with $60 million to spend in the 2018 offseason, and gives them a chance at two max players. *Everyone looks at LeBron James and Paul George*. If the Lakers get Paul George, the trade is an automatic win. D'Angelo Russell and D'Angelo Russell alone will determine if the Nets are looked at as winners of this trade. If Russell lives up to his potential then the Nets get the young talent they desperately need, and come out as winners.
Scenario 2 (Ehh)
Via USAtoday
An "Ehh" trade is exactly what its name suggests. Neither side walks away feeling like they won or lost; both sides just feel "ehh". This scenario is basically a Ball-Russell battle. In this scenario, the Lakers don't get Paul George. The Lakers trading D'Angelo Russell pretty much guarantees Lonzo Ball will be the Lakers #2 pick come Thursday, and guarantees Ball and Russell's careers will forever be compared. If Lonzo outperforms Russell throughout their careers, but Paul George or any other superstar doesn't come to LA, then its an ehh trade for the Lakers. If D'Angelo Russell doesn't live up to his potential and continues with his current production, then it's an ehh trade for the Nets.
Scenario 3(Lose-Lose)
Via laseur.com
It's nearly impossible for the Nets to lose the trade, but this is the same team that traded three years worth of top-10 picks for a pair of 36 year-olds. Simply put, the only way the Nets lose this trade is if D'Angelo Russell implodes as a basketball player. The Lakers being the losers of this trade is the more likely option. The Lakers lose this trade if Lonzo looks more like Michael Carter-Williams than Jason Kidd, and if they don't capitalize on the cap room they've created. The Lakers future now depends on Lonzo Ball and their ability to attract free agents.
Advice: Follow Adrian Wojnarowski on all accounts.