Nets - Lakers trade official

It’s official.

D’Angelo Russell is a Net. So is Timofey Mozgov. Brook Lopez is a Laker and L.A. used a Nets first rounder to take Kyle Kuzma, a forward from Utah who was later traded to the Jazz.

Once the pick was exercised, the trade became a done deal and was announced from the podium at Barclays Center by Mark Tatum, the NBA’s deputy commissioner. The announcement triggered a series of statements from the Nets. Team officials had previously been prohibited from commenting on the deal.

“We are extremely excited to welcome D’Angelo and Timofey to our Brooklyn Nets family,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “D’Angelo is a versatile young guard with a bright future and we are enthusiastic about continuing his development along with our young nucleus, while Timofey will provide a veteran presence who can contribute on both ends of the floor. Both are great fits within Kenny’s system.

“We would also like to thank Brook for all of his contributions to the team over his nine seasons with the Nets. As the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and longest-tenured player, he has been an exemplary member of the organization and always represented the Nets with class both on the court and in the community. We wish Brook and his family nothing but success in the future.”

In answering questions after the Draft about Russell, Marks said he was not concerned about maturity issues, which plagued the 21-year-old in Los Angeles.

Separately, Mikhail Prokhorov, in Brooklyn for the Draft, issued a personal welcome to “D’Angelo and Timofey”, his countryman, and offered his thanks to Lopez.

Russell and Mozgov are expected to be introduced at a press conference in Brooklyn at some point in the coming weeks although Mozgov will likely be in Russian national team training camp for much of the summer, preparing for the FIBA European championships.