The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to lose guard D'Angelo Russell this offseason, but could potentially acquire a solid return for him.
Russell has received enormous backlash during his tenure in Los Angeles, largely due to his inconsistent play in the postseason. Lakers insider Anthony Irwin recently reported on the situation, writing, "Sources close to the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity say the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for D’Angelo Russell to opt out, but would not be at all surprised if he opted into his player option for the 2024-25 season. League sources believe that if Russell does opt in, a trade would be likely."
Although it would require a few extra steps, facilitating a trade for Russell to go elsewhere benefits the Lakers much more than walking for free. His trade value is not at its peak by any means, but a guard averaging 18 points and 6.3 assists could be a desirable player for numerous contending teams.
