The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities with D’Angelo Russell, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Russell becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Since the point guard is friends with Phoenix Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker and future Hall of Famer Chris Paul is close pals with Lakers superstar forward LeBron James, there has been talk around the NBA about the Lakers and Suns doing a sign-and-trade deal with Russell and Paul.
“Russell is known to be close friends with Booker,” Fischer wrote. “Plus, the Lakers are said to be exploring similar sign-and-trade possibilities with Russell. For Los Angeles and Phoenix, losing Russell by free agency or waiving Paul would sacrifice a $30 million salary slot that feels all the more precious while staring down a daunting new second tax apron in the league’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement. These decisions are not ones to make on a whim, and that’s why Phoenix and Paul have begun discussing different alternatives roughly three weeks before free agency begins.”
The Lakers acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the February trade deadline and the Ohio State product played well in his 17 games with Los Angeles, averaging 17.4 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul & Phoenix Suns Updates
Russell also put up strong numbers in the first two rounds of the 2023 playoffs versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. He averaged 15.7 points and 5.0 assists and scored 31 points in Game 6 against the Grizzlies.
However, Russell was so bad against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals that many people around the NBA believe the Lakers shouldn’t re-sign him. The one-time All-Star averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the floor and 13.3% from 3-point land as the Nuggets swept the Lakers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul & Phoenix Suns Updates
It will be interesting to see where Russell and Paul are playing next season. There’s a chance the two guards could swap jerseys.
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