After being traded back to the team that made his NBA dreams come true, Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell is looking to earn a significant payday in LA or elsewhere, demonstrating his talents as an offensive talent and standout facilitator who can help teams immediately. However, a dismal showing in the playoffs has impacted his appeal to teams around the Association.
D’Angelo Russell Free Agent Profile
Background
Russell began the 2022-23 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging nearly 18 points and 6.2 assists per game in 54 contests. He was then dealt back to LA in the three-team Russell Westbrook trade, reuniting with not only owner Jeanie Buss but also Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley, who came from the Utah Jazz after being dealt as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.
Russell’s stats hardly changed in 17 regular season games for the Lakers. He put up 17 points and six assists per game while shooting a career-high 41% from three. The playoffs, however, were a different story. In his third postseason, Russell averaged a mere 13.3 points per game on 42-31-77 splits. After leading the Brooklyn Nets into the 2019 playoffs—where he boasted a 19-point-per-game average—he has never seemed to find that groove again for several reasons, regressing in the playoffs when he’s supposed to be the reliable third option.
Still, it shouldn’t distract from Russell’s value as a player, as he still holds value as a playmaker and shooter.
Strengths
Russell proved his prowess as a floor general, one who can stabilize an offense in any situation. Despite being on his fourth team in eight years, he is constantly willing to adapt and learn each system perfectly. It’s a key reason why his assists per game has gone from three as a rookie to seven with the Nets (2018-19) and Timberwolves (2021-22). His ability to set teammates up for success has paid dividends for teams. He took the Nets to their first playoff series since 2015 and played a vital role as the Wolves’ third option behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Aside from his passing, Russell has proven to be a solid three-point shooter, taking and making most of his attempts. In the regular season, threes made up half of his shot attempts. He posted a season-high 33 points with six triples in a narrow loss to the New York Knicks on Mar. 12. Russell also had bright moments in the playoffs, as he buried five of nine attempts from distance for 31 points when the Lakers eliminated Memphis Grizzlies in game six of the first round.
Russell is a gifted scorer who can get hot in a hurry. His contributions as the lead facilitator have not gone unnoticed, either. He’ll be earning a solid payday on his next contract because of his offensive talent.
Weaknesses
As great as Russell was in the regular season, his aforementioned playoff blunders could negatively impact his value. Outside of his postseason debut with Brooklyn, Russell’s mediocre play under the bright lights has overshadowed his worth as a standout point guard. Additionally, he is a defensive liability, posting a rating of 116.5 this season. It’s not what teams are looking for when guards are becoming more gifted year after year.
Finally, Russell has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the years, impacting his availability in a major way. He missed six games after the trade deadline due to an ankle sprain. He then dealt with foot and knee injuries towards the end of the regular season. Russell must become more reliable and consistent heading into next year.
Potential Fits for D’Angelo Russell
In an ideal world, it makes sense for Russell to re-sign with the Lakers on a team-friendly deal. He’s a perfect fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and was a breath of fresh air to fans after the lingering issues with Westbrook. However, his injury issues and severe inconsistency in the playoffs make a strong case against his return to the Lakers.
Recent reports claim that the Lakers could re-sign him to a two-year deal that aligns with the timelines of James and Davis. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote that Russell is eligible for a two-year, $67.5 million contract extension that must be signed by June 30.
Outside of the Lakers, Russell’s market is slim. If he and the Lakers don’t agree on a new contract, the only other plausible fit would be the Toronto Raptors, who need a lead facilitator after Fred VanVleet declined his $22.8 million Player Option. The Lakers had also discussed a sign-and-trade involving the 27-year-old, which would probably be his only other avenue away from LA. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha also projected a small market for Russell regardless of a trade or free agency. With LA’s point guard options growing thin, expect the Russell reunion to last longer than just half a season.
