The Los Angeles Lakers are constantly looking to upgrade their roster at every position. To do that, Los Angeles may have to move on from one of their most consistent players.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has been looking to upgrade the roster since the last trade deadline. Los Angeles fell short in the postseason for the second year in a row, which led to a big-time change in the coaching staff. Undoubtedly, that change may not be the only one for Los Angeles as the season nears.
On a recent episode of "The Hoop Collective", ESPN's Tim McMahon and Tim Bontemps both sounded off on the Lakers' future outlook regarding the point guard.
"I mean, at the end of the day, If the Lakers are going to be the championship-contending team that people want them to be, you have to have -- in theory what they really need to do is turn D'Angelo Russell into a gut who can both hit threes and guard," McMahon stated.
Bontemps added to his thoughts by claiming "Austin Reaves is a guy they (Lakers) clearly see as a guy who's part of their core going forward. D'Angelo Russell is not, which is why he's on this two-year makeshift deal in the first place."
D’Angelo Russell’s name has been floated around in trade rumors as a likely candidate to be moved amid the Lakers trade interest. And if the Ohio State alum is dealt, these five teams could make the most sense.
Orlando Magic
The Magic is one team that immediately comes to mind when considering the need to bring in a guard. Orlando made an impressive run to the postseason last year before falling short in the first round of the playoffs. With quality play from the backcourt to help Paolo Banchero out, the Magic could be a dark horse team in the Eastern Conference under Jamahl Mosley.
San Antonio Spurs
It’s no secret that the Spurs have been seeking a talented guard to fill out the backcourt. With Victor Wembanyama leading the way, San Antonio brought in Chris Paul hoping to add more playmaking to the group. However, with Russell available, the Spurs could bring in a much younger pass-first guard to fast-forward the team’s rebuild alongside their generation cornerstone.
Utah Jazz
Utah may not be the first team to come to mind to make a move for Russell, but there are a couple of reasons Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge may pull the trigger on this deal. First and foremost, the Jazz enters next season with thin depth in the backcourt. Utah could look to bring in Russell just as a veteran to help with the development of Keyonte George who the Jazz have high hopes for as a playmaker. Not only would Russell bring another talented player back to Utah, but it would also give Ainge the chance to acquire additional draft picks to take on Russell’s $18 million contract.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards are finally pushing the button on a full rebuild after yet another disappointing season last year. However, one big name that remains in Washington is former Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, who has been linked to the Lakers in trade rumors in recent months. If Los Angeles did indeed have serious interest in bringing back their former draft pick, Russell’s contract could be used as a salary match to get the deal done. Not to mention the Wizards could add a guard to their depleted backcourt ahead of next season.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit is another team that could look to bring in Russell despite not being discussed often as a potential trade partner. The Piston's new general manager Trajan Langdon could look to bring in Russell to pair with Cade Cunningham as the team’s hopes for Jaden Ivey’s development continue to diminish. With Detroit signing Tobias Harris in the offseason, it seems as if the Pistons are looking to compete sooner rather than later, and the 28-year-old could be another piece to help them do just that.
If Russell is moved, expect there to be a number of teams looking to bolster their backcourt with him in mind.
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