Present position:Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per report >>Text
Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per report
Credit Card Protection Policies7Have read
About Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per report Ru...
Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per report
Russell is widely expected to be a trade candidate for the Lakers this offseason
By Sam Quinn • 2 min readD'Angelo Russell is opting into the final year and $18.7 million of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. Russell, whom the Lakers acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, signed a two-year deal with the Lakers last offseason that included this player option. With trade rumors swirling around him at both the deadline and during this offseason, there was some fear that he might opt out and leave the Lakers for nothing. However, with Russell opting in, the Lakers will either bring back their starting point guard or have extra salary to use in a trade.
Russell has had two strong regular seasons with the Lakers since joining the team in 2023. He averaged 17.4 points in his final 17 games of the 2022-23 season, and then put up 18 points and 6.3 assists per game while breaking the Laker record with 226 total 3-pointers last season. However, Russell struggled mightily in consecutive playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, both of which the Lakers lost. He averaged a pathetic 6.3 points per game in the 2023 Western Conference finals, and then shot below 39% from the floor in the first round against Denver last season. He was benched for Game 4 in 2023 but started all five games last postseason.
While Russell is a strong offensive player in the regular season, those playoff issues combined with his well-known defensive weaknesses make him a tough fit for a Lakers team with lofty postseason ambitions. He was an upgrade on Russell Westbrook when the Lakers were desperate, and his ability to run the offense for lengthy stretches helped keep LeBron James healthy, but now that he has opted in, the Lakers will likely consider him as a trade chip.
Their books sorely needed his salary for that purpose. The Lakers have four other players earning between $10 million to $20 million: Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent. This is the optimal range for trading purposes because it is a small enough number to be traded individually for a single, non-star player, but big enough that, when lumped with other contracts, can take in a very expensive acquisition. The problem here is that the Lakers view Reaves and Hachimura as long-term core pieces. With only Vincent and Vanderbilt as likely trade options, the Lakers were pretty limited in the kinds of players they could pursue. Adding Russell's $18.7 million to the mix gives them more flexibility to seek out help.
Tags:
Reprinted :Welcome friends to share to the network, but please explain the source of the article“Credit Card Protection Policies”。http://aqntz.feilaokan.com/0xkce4.html
Related articles
Jets' Aaron Rodgers explains odd sideline exchange with Robert Saleh during Week 3 win vs. Patriots
Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per reportJets' Aaron Rodgers explains odd sideline exchange with Robert Saleh during Week 3 win vs. Patriots...
Read more
What channel is NASCAR on today? TV schedule, start time for 2024 Watkins Glen playoff race
Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per reportWhat channel is NASCAR on today? TV schedule, start time for 2024 Watkins Glen playoff raceChirag Ra...
Read more
College football end
Lakers' D'Angelo Russell exercises $18.7 million player option to stay in L.A., per reportCollege football end-of-year accountability: The good, bad and ugly of predictions for 2023 season...
Read more
Top Article
- The Six Pack: Michigan vs. USC, Tennessee vs. Oklahoma among top Week 4 college football picks
- Zach Eflin trade grades: Orioles get 'A' for landing veteran starter from division rival Rays
- Florida State score: Memphis drops FSU to 0
- NHL Rewind: Lightning's Nikita Kucherov registers six
- WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx and rookie Dorka Juhasz make history, Liberty remain No. 1 ahead of Aces
- WATCH: Sidney Crosby surprises Penguins fans with their 2023
Latest News
John Calipari hits ground running in Arkansas after ugly final chapter at Kentucky that 'sucks'
NFL Week 2 expert picks: Advice for pick'em & confidence pools
Kentucky basketball roster 2024
Bill Belichick chose Patriots defender as his Week 1 Football Guy of the Week
Aliyah Boston, Jewell Loyd among six WNBA athletes participating in 2024 Player Marketing Agreement
Texas WR Isaiah Bond topped 22 mph on TD reception