One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers make a blockbuster trade centered around D’Angelo Russell and Malcolm Brogdon. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Blazers:
The Los Angeles Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell and Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Portland Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon
Russell becomes trade-eligible in mid-December. His new two-year contract with the Lakers is guaranteed for $36 million. Russell waived his implied no-trade clause, so LA can trade him anywhere in mid-December.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Russell also put up strong numbers in the first two rounds of the 2023 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 at home.
However, Russell was bad against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. 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. If Russell struggles again versus elite teams this season, maybe the Lakers will have to part ways with him.
Brogdon won the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 67 games for the Boston Celtics while shooting 48.4% from the floor, 44.4% from 3 and 87.0% from the free-throw line.
Brogdon signed a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Indiana Pacers in October 2021. He’ll make $22.5 million this season. The 30-year-old wasn’t happy with how the Celtics handled his elbow injury and was open to getting traded.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Blazers are in rebuild mode after trading Damian Lillard, while the Lakers are title contenders with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. It will be fascinatingto see if Los Angeles and Portland make the trade Buckley came up with.
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