The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to lose point guard D’Angelo Russell this offseason, but they could potentially get a solid return on him.
Russell has received tremendous backlash during his tenure in Los Angeles, largely due to his inconsistent play in the postseason. Lakers Insider Anthony Irwin recently reported on the situation.writing: “Sources close to the situation who speak on condition of anonymity say the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for D’Angelo Russell to opt out, but would not be at all surprised if he picked up his player option for the 2024-25 season. “League sources believe that if Russell does opt in, a trade would be likely.”
While it would require some extra steps, facilitating a trade for Russell to go elsewhere benefits the Lakers far more than walking for free. His trade value isn’t at its peak by any means, but a point guard averaging 18 points and 6.3 assists could be a desirable player for numerous contending teams.