There have been highs and lows throughout D’Angelo Russell’s second stay with the Lakers. He had a significant part in the team’s late-season success in 2023 after being traded back to the team that selected him in the first round. But when they needed him most during the playoffs, he vanished.
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The 10-year veteran then had a poor 2023–24 season with much higher expectations. It was anticipated that he would be traded out of town in an offseason trade if he chose to opt into the last year of his deal this summer. Nevertheless, there was no market for the guard’s services.
Under new head coach JJ Redick, things did not improve at the beginning of the season. The former ESPN analyst, however, recently took a risk by benching Russell. Unexpectedly, the 28-year-old has contributed to the demotion and appears rejuvenated after coming off the bench The Lakers are 19.9 points better per 100 possessions w
hen he is on the field and 5.4 points poorer per 100 when he is not since he was sent to the bench. The front management has apparently changed their mind about using him in a trade in the near future because of this.
According to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin of Clutch Points, “Russell’s success in this role may make them a little more reluctant to part with him, as the bench unit seriously struggled with Gabe Vincent at the helm,” Irwin claimed on Monday.
“The Lakers might become even pickier about who they trade him for or look for a more dependable option than Vincent as part of a Russell trade if this is truly who Russell can be for the remainder of the season.”
