{"id":71214,"date":"2024-03-30T16:14:52","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T20:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=71214"},"modified":"2024-03-30T16:14:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T20:14:52","slug":"eastern-conference-team-eyeing-los-angeles-lakers-starter-dangelo-russell-orlando-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/30\/eastern-conference-team-eyeing-los-angeles-lakers-starter-dangelo-russell-orlando-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Conference Team Eyeing Los Angeles Lakers Starter"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to Los Angeles Lakers insider Jovan Buha, current starter D’Angelo Russell<\/a> has been linked to the Orlando Magic<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cOrlando\u2019s the team,\u201d Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. \u201cOrlando is the team that \u2014 talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers \u2014 Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor [for D\u2019Angelo Russell].\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Russell has a player option worth $18.6 million that he could decline. So far, the combo guard has publicly expressed his desire to remain with the Lakers<\/a>:<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now. Obviously, I\u2019ve been on the other side of it, and I\u2019ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I\u2019m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I\u2019ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I\u2019m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it\u2019s supposed to play out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This season, Russell has played 68 games for the Lakers, starting 61 of them. In those games, he is averaging 18.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. Furthermore, he is shooting 45.9% from the field and a career-high 42% from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

Eastern Conference Team Eyeing Los Angeles Lakers Starter<\/h2>\n

Why the Orlando Magic Are Interested in D’Angelo Russell<\/h3>\n

Even though he has been in the league since 2015, Russell is still just 28 years old. His combination of experience and youth in the league can be useful for any team in the NBA. The Magic have a solid, young team. Furthermore, their Franz Wagner<\/a> and Paolo Banchero<\/a> frontcourt duo are intriguing. The team currently has a 42-31 record and owns the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they could greatly benefit from another premier scorer, especially in the backcourt. Additionally, with a 35.2 team 3pt% this season, the Magic are one of the worst three-point shooting teams<\/a> in the league. This is exactly why Russell would be a good acquisition for Orlando.<\/p>\n

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Around the three with DLo \ud83c\udfaf pic.twitter.com\/9qJO0iNSF3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n