Lakers' D’Angelo Russell’s future in LA remains foggy; What's next

D’Angelo Russell has seemingly been on the trade block for the last two trade deadlines as the Los Angeles Lakers constantly eye roster upgrades. The former lottery pick remains in LA, but the question is for how long?

Russell entered the league as a playmaking guard viewed as a great passer and a nifty scorer. Through his 11-year career, the 28-year-old has proved to be a playmaker, but he hasn’t found a long-term home at any stop.

The Ohio State product was drafted by the Lakers in 2015 before being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017. Since then, Russell has spent time with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves before returning to LA in 2022.

This past season, Russell averaged 18 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds on 45.6% shooting from field goal range, including 41.5% from beyond the arc. Not only did Russell prove to be a consistent scorer, but he also showed improvements on the defensive side of the ball last year.

All things considered, Russell would seem like the ideal role player alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, the rumor mill suggests that the Lakers front office may think the opposite.

As of now, Russell remains with the Lakers as the season approaches. And with new head coach JJ Redick on the scene, it’ll be interesting to see if the basketball guru has a specific role he’d like Russell to fill with the team before engaging in more trade talk.

Nonetheless, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 6-foot-3 playmaker in a different team’s jersey by the end of the 2024-25 NBA season.

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