One NBA writer is proposing that the San Antonio Spurs acquire D’Angelo Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade. Lee Tran of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Spurs and Lakers:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Keldon Johnson
San Antonio Spurs Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, 2029 First-Round Pick
“The main thing that the San Antonio Spurs have to do is build around Victor Wembanyama,” Tran wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “For big men, the key to helping them be successful is finding a point guard who can find that player for easy looks. Right now, the Spurs only have Devonte’ Graham on the roster, and he is known more for being a 3PT shooter rather than a playmaker. Perhaps making a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell is the right move.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Lakers acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 2023 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 3. D’Lo also put up strong numbers in the first two rounds of the 2023 NBA playoffs versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. The Louisville native 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 believed the Lakers shouldn’t have re-signed him. The lefty averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the field and 13.3% from beyond the arc as the Nuggets swept the Lakers.
Despite Russell’s struggles versus the Nuggets, though, the Lakers brought him back on a two-year, $37 million contract. However, Russell waived his implied no-trade clause, so Los Angeles can trade the guard anywhere.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Russell has career NBA averages of 17.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Warriors and Timberwolves. It will be fascinating to see if he spends the entire 2023-24 season in Los Angeles or is traded again.
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