Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook is the centrepiece of trade talks between three teams, according to a report by The Athletic.
The Lakers, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves are in talks on a deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Westbrook and a draft pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski later reported that the deal is "largely hinging" on the Timberwolves and that the Lakers and Jazz are ready to pull the trigger. Minnesota is reportedly shopping Russell elsewhere to see what kind of value he has.
Westbrook, who has been mentioned in trade rumours heading into Thursday's NBA trade deadline, is averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds this season for a Lakers team that is 13th in the Western Conference.
A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook also was NBA MVP in 2016-17 as a member of the Thunder.
A report earlier Wednesday by Wojnarowski said Westbrook and coach Darvin Ham got into a "brief, heated verbal exchange" at halftime of the Lakers' 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The two later resolved their differences, Wojnarowski reported.
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