[The Los Angeles Lakers have traded guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. The deal also includes the Lakers sending their own second-round picks in 2027, 2030, and 2031 to the Nets. Russell spent parts of the past three seasons with the Lakers and had exercised the $18.7 million option in his contract to remain with the team over the summer.
According to sources, the Lakers were “expected to be aggressive” in finding a trade partner after Russell opted in to his contract. Russell is an NBA veteran who has played for the Lakers, Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He was originally the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Lakers, but it wasn’t until he went to Brooklyn that he truly broke out, earning All-Star honors in 2018-19.
In 29 appearances this season, Russell has averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. With his uncertain role and declining numbers, there had been speculation regarding big changes to the roster and his status with the Lakers. With the trade, the supporting cast around James and Davis will look quite different. Russell now has an opportunity to put up big numbers again, especially if he assumes a larger role for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign ahead of a return to free agency.
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