data-mm-id=”_by58nkzcn”>The Los Angeles Lakers have a pulse. After a year of letdowns and a roster not build to compete in the crowded Western Conference, a trade deadline deal has injected life into a listless roster. On Wednesday, the Lakers finally dumped Russell Westbrook in a three-team deal that netted them D'Angelo Russell and two useful role players. It's hard to see this trade as anything but a massive win for LA.Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are finalizing trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles, Russell Westbrook and first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. and second-round pick compensation to Minnesota, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023The Lakers never should have traded for Westbrook, it was a huge mistake the day the deal was consummated. Nearly two years later, all the worst fears associated with that move have played out. The team was buried in 13th place in the West with little hope of climbing the ladder. Then the deadline happened. The Lakers are getting Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Utah Jazz will receive Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and a 2027 first-round pick (which is protected 1 through 4), while the Minnesota Timberwolves get Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and three second-round picks (2024, 2025, 2026). The three players LA is receiving fill massive holes and none have bad contracts. Russell, who the Lakers selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and spent two seasons with the franchise, is obviously the centerpiece. So far this season he's averaging 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 32.9 minutes per game. He's also hitting a career-best 39.1 percent from 3-point range. He'll help the Lakers spread the floor for Anthony Davis and LeBron James. While he plays almost no defense, Russell will help take some of the scoring load off the Lakers' Big 2. He'll be a free agent this summer. Beasley and Vanderbilt will likely step in as key role players, and both should help the team immediately. the 26-year-old Beasley is averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.8 minutes per game this season. He'll be a 3-point shooter off-the-bench. He's only hitting 35.9 percent from deep this season, but has a long track record as one of the league's best shooters. The Lakers will have a club option on Beasley for $16.5 million they are likely to decline. If they don't re-sign Russell and Beasley, the Lakers can clear $47.9 million in cap space off the books this summer. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is the kind of player the Lakers have been missing for years. An athletic 6-foot-8 forward who is versatile and switchable defensively, Beasley has stepped into a starting role for the Jazz this season. He's averaging career-highs in points (8.3) and assists (2.7), while grabbing 7.9 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game. He's cheap and under team control through next season for $4.7 million. He's an absolute bargain. Honestly, I'm not sure how the Lakers pulled this off. They became a much better 3-point shooting team, still have enough playmakers and added a rangy defender with a ton of upside on both ends. This deal is an enormous win for Rob Pelinka and his front office. It should vault the Lakers into playoff contention. READ NEXT: 30 Best SportsCenter Anchors of All-Time
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It was arguably the least fluent Arsenal have looked this season but they managed to get the job done, with Gabriel Magalhaes getting the winner to make amends for the error that initially gifted Aleksandar Mitrovic the opening goal.
Captain Martin Odegaard had levelled for the Gunners prior to Gabriel s 85th-minute goal, which ensured Arsenal began the season with four successive wins for the first time since 2004.
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Mikel Arteta will be able to call on Mesut Ozil for his first game in charge of Arsenal as the Gunners visit Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Arteta labelled the much-maligned Ozil a massive player for Arsenal on Friday after he was confirmed as the Gunners new head coach.
However, Ozil, who was struggling with a foot injury, was not involved as Arsenal drew 0-0 with Everton in Freddie Ljungberg s final match in temporary charge on Saturday, with Arteta watching on from the stands at Goodison Park.
The playmaker who Ljungberg said would not have been involved even if fit due to his petulant reaction to being subbed off against Manchester City has now recovered from the problem, however, and will be available for selection at the Vitality Stadium.
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Our rivalry is only on the pitch – Ederson opens up on relationship with Liverpool counterpart Aliss
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson insists his rivalry with Liverpool counterpart Alisson only exists on the pitch, despite competing with each other on multiple fronts.
The pair have battled it out for domestic and European honours during their time in English football, while also vying for the number one jersey with Brazil.
Ederson has played second fiddle to Alisson on the international stage, but the 26-year-old believes their intense on-field competition can only be considered a positive.
I think it s a good sign for all the goalkeepers in Brazil and for the country, he is quoted as saying by several British newspapers.
You look at Europe and you find two great goalkeepers playing at high level in two of the best clubs.
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Switzerland international Shaqiri was instrumental in Stoke winning successive Premier League matches for the first time since March with a brilliant display, suggesting the Potters sluggish start to the season may be behind them.
The former Inter winger picked out the top corner with a 25-yard stunner in the 26th minute to put Mark Hughes team, unchanged from their first top-flight win in eight against Sunderland last weekend, on the path to victory.
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The France international centre-back has emerged as one of Europe s most-promising defenders in recent seasons and is part of a Leipzig side that has conceded just 12 goals in 15 Bundesliga games this season.
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claimed on July 24 that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Martial. claimed last week Spurs and Everton want to sign the former AS Monaco striker this summer.
Martial has scored in 167 appearances in the Premier League so far. The United forward made 17 starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League , scoring four goals and providing three assists in the process. The 25-year-old scored two goals and gave one assist in five Champions League matches and played thrice in the Eur…
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The experienced striker left the Bianconeri on a free transfer in the summer of 2010, and has since featured for Hercules, Bani Yas and River Plate.
Following a disappointing start to the current season, the 35-year-old was linked with a return to Turin, but the transfer never materialized.
Trezeguet now reveals there were some contacts, but that he ultimately pulled the plug on the deal.
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Inter have been fined 50,000 euros after their fans racially abused Milan forward Mario Balotelli in Sunday s derby.
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Reports in Italy claim Inter fans waved inflatable bananas at their former player, who was also fined 10,000 euros for spitting in the fans direction during the 1-1 draw.
Inter were previously handed a 15,000 euro fine after the club s supporters racially abused Balotelli during the win over Chievo earlier in February.
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Belgium striker Jonathan Benteke, also known as the brother of former Aston Villa and Liverpool forward Christian Benteke will join his sibling at Crystal Palace, according to reports from Belgium.
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We are still negotiating, …