D’Angelo Russell plans to train possibility, return to Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell plans to decide into the ultimate yr of his contract for $18.7 million, he advised Swish Cultures a day earlier than the deadline for the choice.

Russell, 28, is coming off a powerful season for L.A. due to a second-half surge. He completed his ninth season with averages of 18.0 factors on 45.6% capturing (41.5% from 3), 6.3 assists and three.1 rebounds.

The Lakers mentioned a Russell commerce with a number of groups final season, seeking to improve the purpose guard place partly due to Russell’s struggles within the 2023 Western Convention finals in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.

After drafting Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 choose and Bronny James with the No. 55 choose this week, L.A. nonetheless has the flexibility to commerce two future first-round picks, which, paired with an expiring contract the scale of Russell’s, may result in a new-look lineup for the Lakers.

The Lakers have changed Darvin Ham — whom Russell struggled to see eye-to-eye with at instances — with JJ Redick at head coach because the season ended with one other playoff loss to Denver.

Redick, an elite 3-point shooter in his personal proper throughout his enjoying profession, spoke about his need for extra 3s throughout the roster for subsequent season. It stands to purpose he would worth the talent set of Russell, who broke the Lakers’ single-season 3-pointers made report final season with 226.