The Los Angeles Lakers point guard, D’Angelo Russell, will enter unrestricted free agency this summer after the end of the ongoing NBA season.
D’Angelo Russell, the former Minnesota Timberwolves point guard, crushed his ex-team by registering a thumping win by 123-111. The point guard, who arrived in Hollywood last month, has become a key player in the starting lineup. He came in at a stage when the Lakers desperately needed a scorer to take some pressure off the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
And D’Angelo Russell did just what the Lakers asked him to. Being an ex-Laker, he gelled in pretty quickly with the lineup. Russell complimented the aggressive gameplay of the LeBron-Davis duo and scored important points at the crucial stages of the game. But after the end of this season, he will enter free agency. So, will the Los Angeles Lakers franchise retain its attacking gun? Here are some reasonings for the team to re-sign him in a long-term deal.
D’Angelo Russell Is A Long Term Attacking Solution For The Lakers
Since rejoining the LA Lakers last month, D’Angelo Russell has just elevated his attacking gameplay. In the first 12 games donning the purple and gold jersey, he has had a net rating of 13.9, including a 121.1 offensive rating and a 107.2 defensive rating. Moreover, his average stands at 18.5 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Hence, Russell is the perfect solution to the Lakers’ scoring problems.
Another reason the Lakers should consider signing D’Angelo Russell for a longer period is the uncertain future of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Both the scoring pillars are unlikely to don the purple and gold jersey next season. On top of that, the point guard is 27 years old. Hence, in a perfect world, Russell could lead the Lakers in the following years. Coming to the payroll front, in an open market, he is worth around $20 million a year. The purple and gold would probably have to cash out a little more than that, but it’s nothing they cannot afford. Hence, the Lakers should re-sign D’Angelo Russell this summer in a multi-year contract.
Russell Hails Anthony Davis’ Perseverance Against The Timberwolves
LA Lakers star center forward Anthony Davis once again owned the night against the Minnesota Timberwolves with 38 points. However, he suffered an injury scare during the third quarter, wherein a fall led to some issues with the ankle. The forward looked in visible pain but resumed after the break in the final quarter and went on till the very end.
After the game, point guard, D’Angelo Russell hailed AD’s resilience and toughness. He further shut down the haters and said nobody has the right to come out and criticize Davis after what he’s done today for the team in one of the most crucial games of the season. Lastly, Russell referred to AD as the type of leader that teammates like him love to follow. Meanwhile, the severity of the injury is not yet known, as no official word has come out of the Lakers’ front office. The fans would hope for Davis’ speedy recovery as he is a key piece of the team’s success this season.