Tommy Sheppard began draft day discussing trades that would have built around a pairing of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal with the Washington Wizards, but a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers quickly materialized in the hours leading to the start of the draft.

The Lakers were close to the finish line on a trade of Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Sacramento Kings for Buddy Hield. The parties and players involved in the trade were surprised to see it fall apart with the Lakers pivoting to the Westbrook trade.

Westbrook reportedly expressed a preference to be traded from the Wizards this offseason with the Lakers as his chosen destination. 

As for Hield eventually going to the Lakers, neither the Wizards or Kings have interest in a sign-and-trade for Dennis Schroder. 

The Washington Wizards could move quickly to acquire Spencer Dinwiddie from the Brooklyn Nets in a sign-and-trade, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

The deal could be folded into Washington's trade with the Los Angeles Lakers involving Russell Westbrook with Kyle Kuzma or Montrezl Harrell going to the Nets.

Brooklyn also continues to unload the salary of DeAndre Jordan.

Bradley Beal had no issues with the Washington Wizards trading away Russell Westbrook, sources tell The Athletic. Sources also said that Beal has expressed no desire to be traded this offseason.

The Wizards remain confident they can sign Beal long-term even as questions about his mindset have surfaced in recent days.

Beal can sign a four-year, $180 million extension with the Wizards in October, or he can sign a five-year, $235 million contract during his 2022 free agency.

Beal averaged more than 30 points per game in each of the past two seasons.

Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to receive interest in free agency from the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, sources tell The Athletic.

The Wizards entered the picture for Dinwiddie after trading Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooklyn, however, would need to agree to a sign-and-trade and would seek more than Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma for their cooperation. 

Dinwiddie averaged 20.6 points per game during the 19-20 but missed most of last season with a torn ACL.

Russell Westbrook met with LeBron James and Anthony Davis approximately two weeks ago at the house of James to discuss the possibility of playing together with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers and Washington Wizards agreed to a trade of Westbrook shortly before the draft on Thursday.

Westbrook talked about how his only intention is to return home to Los Angeles and become a champion. James and Davis talked about changing positions, playing more minutes at power forward and center, respectively, to accommodate Westbrook. Sources that spoke with Jovan Buha of The Athletic also indicated that Davis is expected to play more minutes at center next season. 

Westbrook attended Lawndale Leuzinger High School and then two seasons at UCLA. Westbrook will be on his fourth team in four years. Westbrook has two years left on his contract, $44.2 million for next season and $47 million for the 2022-23 season.

Shams Charania and Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that Westbrook formally informed the Wizards of his wish to be traded recently and that he preferred a deal to the Lakers.

The Indiana Pacers have traded Aaron Holiday and No. 31 to the Washington Wizards for the No. 22 draft pick used on Isaiah Jackson.

Holiday was a first round pick in 2018 out of UCLA and averaged 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.8 minutes per game last season for the Pacers. 

The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook, a 2024 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and No. 22.

Westbrook sought a trade from the Wizards this offseason. Westbrook will now play for his fourth team in four years. 

The Lakers were previously in talks with the Sacramento Kings on a similar deal for Buddy Hield.

While Westbrook will create issues for the spacing of the Lakers, the team has sought additional playmaking around LeBron James.

Bradley Beal has no interest in requesting a trade from the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards are in the process of finalizing a trade of Russell Westbrook, sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the No. 22 pick.

Beal can sign a five-year, $235 million max contract with the Wizards next summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards are engaged in trade talks involving Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook would like a trade from the Wizards and the Lakers are his preferred destination. Westbrook is signed for two more seasons at $44.2 million and $47.1 million. The Wizards acquired Westbrook from the Houston Rockets last offseason and they made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed after a slow start to the season.

The Lakers would send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Washington for Westbrook. The Lakers could possibly also include No. 22.

Westbrook has become the primary focus of the Lakers as he would give them another playmaker alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. 

The Lakers have also discussed a trade with the Sacramento Kings for Buddy Hield. 

Tommy Sheppard confirmed in his pre-draft media availability that Bradley Beal has not requested a trade from the Washington Wizards.

There were reports over the weekend that Beal was considering his future with the Wizards ahead of the draft.

Sheppard added that he's in regular communication with Beal, who can become a free agent in 2022 if he doesn't sign a contract extension.