D’Angelo Russell: The Los Angeles Lakers had an outstanding performance in the NBA free agency, fulfilling every requirement one could imagine. Their roster for the upcoming season looks even better than last year’s. A major question mark for the Lakers during the offseason was the potential return of D’Angelo Russell. Despite his underwhelming performance in the Western Conference Finals, losing him would have been a significant blow without any compensation.
To avoid losing Russell without any benefit, the Lakers successfully re-signed him on a two-year contract worth $36 million. Initially, it was reported that the second year would include a player option, but recent information has shed light on the specifics of Russell’s deal.
The newly revealed details indicate that the Lakers are providing themselves with flexibility for future moves if necessary. This newfound understanding clarifies the reasoning behind the Lakers’ decision to bring Russell back into the fold.
Lakers projected starting lineup:
D'Angelo Russell
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis(via @jovanbuha, https://t.co/rhYsjL553K) pic.twitter.com/5Af6eFkqIN
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 14, 2023
LAKERS CONFIRMED ROSTER
PG: D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino
SG: Austin Reaves, Max Christie
SF: LeBron James, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince
PF: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Anthony Davis, Jaxson HayesThis is a championship winning roster! 🏆 #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/dtuWzo4AH7
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) July 13, 2023
The Lakers will most likely trade D’Angelo Russell by 2024 NBA Season
D’Angelo Russell’s decision to waive his implied no-trade clause hints at the Lakers‘ potential plans during the trade deadline. Losing Russell in free agency without any return was always an unfavorable outcome, but now the Lakers have the opportunity to leverage him for assets by the time February rolls around.
While it’s possible that Russell could prove his indispensability to the Lakers with a strong performance in the first half of the season, his inconsistent nature and lack of commitment to winning basketball habits suggest that he may enter the trade market in 2024.
While D’Angelo Russell alone may not fetch significant value, his salary figure is attractive for making deals happen. The Lakers could potentially package him with Rui Hachimura and pick to acquire a star player at the deadline or utilize his contract to help a team seeking to offload long-term financial commitments.
Despite the likelihood that teams won’t be actively pursuing Russell, the combination of his contract and flexibility make him a valuable trade asset. Furthermore, considering Russell’s decision to waive his implied no-trade clause, it appears inevitable that he won’t remain with the Lakers for the entirety of his contract.
Source: Fansided
