NBA Twitter reacts to trade deadline, Russell Westbrook move
The NBA trade deadline came and went and stars and role players alike have been spread across the association like an astronomical map.
Much like our own solar system, the NBA's biggest move was heliocentric, with Kevin Durant reportedly joining forces with Devin Booker and Chris Paul on the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers and Clippers pulled off significant trades as they attempt to put themselves in playoff position.
The Lakers traded point guard and L.A. native Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team deal in which L.A. will get Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz and welcome back D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Along with Westbrook, the Lakers will send a protected 2027 first-round draft pick to the Jazz and a 2024 second-round pick to Minnesota, sources familiar with the deal told the Los Angeles Times.
The move came one day after LeBron James passed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader and less than 24 hours before the NBA's Thursday noon PST trade deadline.
Additionally, the Lakers traded Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba, The Times confirmed.
The Clippers also made moves of their own, acquiring Eric Gordon from the Rockets in exchange for John Wall, sending Reggie Jackson and a second-round pick to the Hornets for Mason Plumlee and adding Bones Hyland to their roster from Denver.
Elsewhere in the league, former Lakers first round draft pick Josh Hart was reportedly moved from the Trail Blazers to the Knicks for three active Knicks, including Cam Reddish, and a first-round pick.
As the many trades were reported, NBA fans across the internet weighed in on all the chaos.
"I'm praying for his happiness and praying for his well being," Kyrie Irving told reporters about Durant. "I'm glad that he got out of there."
The Cavaliers' center Robin Lopez offered an eccentric analogy for how the Brooklyn Nets' Big Three dissolved.
"This is just like that time in 'Muppets Take Manhattan' when the Muppets, after unsuccessfully attempting to take Manhattan, split up and leave Manhattan," he tweeted.
"Lakers got shooting, scoring and athletic wing. Wolves got a culture guy and a leader," tweeted NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. "[Utah CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge] free’d up bread and got a pick. And Russ getting free! Hell of a move for everybody."
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor shared his thoughts on Twitter on Wednesday, writing, "Acquiring Russell Westbrook is one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the Lakers. Dumping him with a protected first for this haul of three players might just save their season."
"It's a great day to be a Laker fan — you got out of a contract and Westbrook you got more shooters," said sports commentator and radio host Colin Cowherd in a Twitter video.
"You got more athletic, you got a real rebounder. The reality is the Lakers got what they wanted, but they got out of, more importantly, what they wanted to get out of."
Co-host of the "Lakers Film Room" podcast Darius Soriano expressed optimism about the trade. "The Lakers as a team combine to attempt 31.1 three-pointers a game," he tweeted. "D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley combine to shoot almost exactly half that many (15.6) a game on their own. The potential to reshape the geometry of the Lakers offense is very real."
A 2015 video of then-Laker Russell naming future teammates Anthony Davis and James as two members of his "dream top 5" in an interview circulated on Twitter following the trade announcement.
Here are more samplings of the internet's initial reactions to the trades:
Omygod lol
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) February 9, 2023
it will always be completely weird and wild that the nets had KD and harden and kyrie and did absolutely nothing at all
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) February 9, 2023
I hope these trades re-energize the Lakers and they go on a run during these final 27 games. The momentum of gettin into the playoffs would be amazing.
— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) February 9, 2023
The NBA West is wide open. Denver and Memphis have been the best. Clippers & Phoenix have the best combinations of talent and experience. N.O. may have the most firepower. Lakers have 2 stars and added shooting and depth. GS still has a championship core.
— Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) February 9, 2023
So the Lakers traded D'Angelo Russell in a deal to get the No. 27 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Used that pick to draft Kyle Kuzma.
Traded Kuzma in a package to get Russell Westbrook.
And then traded Westbrook in a three-team trade to get DLo back.
Talk about a full circle.— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) February 9, 2023
Best news for Clippers at trade deadline: They did not give up any of their Top rotation pieces. They kept T-Mann and I think they was key. Hyland will be a scoring spark off the bench.
Gordon a welcome vet and shooting presence and Plumlee fills the bill to back up Zu.— Ralph Lawler (@Ohmeomy) February 9, 2023
So when we doing dinner? @jalenbrunson1 @mikal_bridges
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) February 9, 2023
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.