Due to player options for D’Angelo Russell and LeBron James, two of the team’s starters from the previous campaign, the Los Angeles Lakers have little flexibility with their roster. It seems that both the Lakers and James want him to return, but it’s unclear what exactly is going on with Russell.
The guard, a previous All-Star, had a great regular season but a rough playoff campaign. But he was probably good enough the previous season to justify a rise above the two-year, $36 million deal the Lakers offered him in the offseason. According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, Russell will turn down his player option and enter free agency.
In a story published on June 20, Buckley stated, “But before that postseason slump, the former No. 2 choice played some of the finest basketball of his career.” That also seemed like a big deal. Shoppers in search of offensive upgrades this summer will be paying close attention to his disastrous performance from January to April (2024) (20.4 points per game on 45/42.6/85.7 shooting).
“Those figures might not bring him a contract greater than his $18.7 million player option, but they might definitely bring him something that pays at least as much over a number of years. It appears likely that he will sign a contract with terms the Lakers are unable to accept.
In what season might D’Angelo Russell play?
It will be challenging for a rival side to give Russell a large salary. Right now, there’s no denying his difficulties in the playoffs. In the regular season, he averages 17.8 points per game on 43% shooting, but in the postseason, he declines to 14.8 points per game on 38.8% shooting.
For a team like the San Antonio Spurs, he would make the most sense. Victor Wembanyama is a player of a generation, but the squad is still far from contending. Outside of Wembanyama, Russell would score some points for the team. Additionally logical would be the Orlando Magic. They could need a senior scorer like Russell, but they did make the playoffs the previous year. Good teams could benefit from the guard’s assistance, but it’s difficult to imagine a great club choosing to pay him.
Who Might Be the PG for the Los Angeles Lakers?
Russell started all 16 games for the Lakers last season, so the team will have a starting point guard if he goes. If Chris Paul was released by the Golden State Warriors, he would be the most apparent choice. Even at 39, he remains an excellent distributor. Although he isn’t as prolific as Russell, he is a far better passer.
The Lakers might try to get a player similar to Trae Young through trade. While he has some of Russell’s defensive shortcomings, he scores more often and has shown that he is a capable postseason player.
That would make sense with Kyle Lowery. Like Paul, he’s really old (38), yet he’s still a capable distributor. The Lakers would probably sign him to a minimum deal so they could try to match him with a rookie point guard. The team needs to add a youthful point guard, but it appears that ageing veterans may be their only option.
Since 2019, Austin Boyd has covered the Los Angeles Lakers and Las Vegas Raiders for Heavy.com. Originally from Los Angeles and currently residing in Las Vegas, he has been featured on Heavy with interviews with NFL players Joe Montana and Darren Waller as well as an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at “The Shop.” Additional details regarding Austin Boyd
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