Lakers deal Mozgov, Russell to Nets for Brook Lopez, pick

By ADAM ZAGORIA & JAKE WEINGARTEN

The Lakers have dealt D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and the No. 27 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, per The Vertical.

The Nets are getting their point guard of the future in Russell, the former No. 2 pick in the Draft, plus a solid big man in Mozgov, the former Knick who was involved in the Carmelo Anthony trade with Denver.

The Lakers, meantime, get rid of the $54 million on the Mozgov deal and also receive Lopez’s expiring contract of $22.6 million in 2017-18. As The Vertical points out, that paves the way for them to add Paul George and/or LeBron James in free agency in 2018.

The Lakers now own the Nos. 2, 27 and 28 picks on Thursday, while the Nets only have No. 22 in the first round. The Portland Trail Blazers also have three first-rounders.

The Lakers are projected to take UCLA guard Lonzo Ball at No. 2.

Photo: SNY.tv

Written by Adam Zagoria

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.