Will the next Big Three in the NBA be built in LA? The Los Angeles Lakers were touted to be active players in the trade deadline, specifically with D'Angelo Russell. Russell was seen as the perfect trade candidate in the offseason, with his team-friendly (read:cheap) contract.

The contract was designed to be traded, as pundits observed. Russell is a starting point guard, and $18 million is below market value. However, Russell was not able to secure huge money in free agency. Thus, he made a deal with his current team that would showcase his skills and allow him to leave via trade. It was mutually beneficial–the Lakers will get a starting point guard eager to show off, and they can move on from him once they find their guy for the future.