LOS ANGELES_The Los Angeles Lakers have traded D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for center Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick in this year's draft, people close to the situation confirmed.
The move allows the Lakers to clear more than $20 million of salary-cap space for the summer of 2018. The Lakers now have enough space for two max contracts in a free agency summer that will include Paul George, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James.
Lopez has one year left on a contract that will pay him $22.6 million during the 2017-18 season. That was part of his draw, as was his ability to stretch the floor. Lopez shot more three-pointers than any other center in the league last season, averaging 5.2 per game and making 34.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
The trade also allows them to move Russell to clear room for their draft pick on Thursday, which will likely be a point guard. Russell began last season as the Lakers' starting point guard, but was benched late in the year. When he returned to the starting lineup, the Lakers played him off the ball at shooting guard, with Jordan Clarkson starting at point guard.
Russell, heading into his third year, was due $5.562 million next season with a team option for the 2018-19 season.
Moving Mozgov was the more significant transaction, money-wise. The Lakers center was due $15.28 million this year, $16 million next year and $16.72 million the following year. Jim Buss, the former Lakers executive vice president of basketball operations, and Mitch Kupchak, the former general manager, signed Mozgov to a four-year deal worth $64 million last summer.
Mozgov began the season as the Lakers starting center, but after 54 games he was benched and didn't start again. By the end of the season, rookie Ivica Zubac became the starting center.
Mozgov was the Lakers' second-highest paid player. Their highest-paid player remains Luol Deng, who signed a four-year, $72-million contract last summer.
