D’Angelo Russell had a pretty tricky homecoming to the Los Angeles Lakers. He started his NBA career with the LA Lakers back in 2015. After a long time, he returned to the purple and gold army. Initially, it looked like the perfect place for him. D’Lo Russell impressed everybody in the regular season. However, the playoffs did not go according to plans and expectations. When Russell joined the team, it brought balance and stability to the roster. It did not take him much time to become an integral part of the side.
D’Lo was going through a purple patch in terms of his shooting in the regular season. However, in the postseason, he disappointed the fans and the front office. There were rumors suggesting the Lakers might plan to trade Russell in the mid-season. Like last year, when they acquired D’Lo Russell at the same time next year, they might use him as a trade package. However, it might not have to wait for that long. Recently, an NBA writer suggested the Indiana Pacers can acquire Jarred Vanderbilt and D’Angelo Russell in a blockbuster trade proposal.
Will The Lakers Trade D’Angelo Russell To The Pacers?
Moreover, Fadeaway World’s Lee Tran proposed the idea that the Lakers might go all out for Myles Turner. According to Tran, the Lakers will trade D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a few future second-round picks to acquire Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. Moreover, Lee Tran believes, as he wrote in his column, that D’Angelo Russell is a pretty good versatile point guard who can also play the backcourt slot. Adding to that, Tran wrote that D’Lo Russell should be a perfect shooting guard partner for Tyrese Haliburton.
Moreover, Russell can play as a secondary playmaker if he plays off-ball. D’Angelo Russell proved that he is capable of thriving around more dominating players. But in the Pacers team, he might get a bigger role to play. It might help Russell build his reputation and gain more value so that he can sign a more lucrative deal the next time he heads into free agency. On the other hand, Jarred Vanderbilt is also in this deal, and he is not necessarily as good as Myles Turner. Nonetheless, Vanderbilt is pretty good at rebounding and rolling into the rims.
D’Lo Really Disappointed Everybody In The Playoffs
In the current offseason, Russell could get a better deal, but his consistency in the playoffs really changed things. Moreover, fans blamed D’Angelo Russell for the failure of the Lakers to beat the eventual champions in the Western Conference Finals. Russell’s three-pointer shooting really deteriorated in the conference finals.
Hence, there were rumors suggesting the Lakers would trade D’Lo in the offseason. Even Russell mentioned he would like to join the Miami Heat if the LA side trades him. However, the LA side changed their plan of trading D’Angelo Russell. Instead, he got two more years with the franchise with a player option in his second year. Moreover, Russell’s value to the team is at present $37 million for a couple of years.