D’Angelo Russell may be re-signed by the Los Angeles Lakers, but it’s not likely that this will happen because they want him to play for them for the entire 2024–25 NBA season. Rather, they think it will be simpler to sell him if he signs a new contract, possibly as early as this summer or even by the 2025 deadline.
The Lakers are now reportedly planning to work harder to get him to sign a one-year contract that would make it simpler for them to trade him at the deadline, if not this summer, but they are also reportedly apprehensive about his market given how he performed throughout the regular season, according to Anthony Irwin. “Considering how seldom the Orlando Magic score from their guard spots, reports have already connected him to the team. Russell performed admirably during the regular season, but he faltered once more in the postseason—a pattern that has followed him everywhere he has played. According to sources, the Lakers attempted to deal him at the deadline, but due to his player option, which would have given him leverage until the summer, no team was interested in acquiring him.
The Lakers will probably attempt to sign and move Russell because they are aware of the limitations that a backcourt combination of Russell and Austin Reaves has, particularly on the defensive end. However, they are willing to consider it again if they don’t receive an offer they like this summer. If all goes well, they plan to upgrade at the deadline, ideally with Russell on a big contract that is about to expire.
Russell had a rather great regular season, but as has been his tendency, he had a somewhat dismal postseason performance. During the regular season, he had 76 appearances (69 of which he started) and averaged 18.0 points and 6.3 assists per game. In the first round of the NBA playoffs, he was defeated by the Denver Nuggets in five games, and his averages dropped to 14.2 points and 4.2 assists per game.
The 28-year-old has a $18.6 million player option remaining on his contract for the 2024–25 NBA season. He has the option to join with any other NBA team as a free agent. The Lakers are considering their options, and since they would naturally not want to lose him for free, they are considering the possibility of signing a new contract before making a trade.
The Cleveland Cavaliers might be a potential partner in addition to the Magic in the event that they need to trade All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell this winter. According to a recent source, if the 27-year-old become available for the Cavaliers, the Lakers would be at the “front of the line.” In search of a third star to go along with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he would be a good fit for the Lakers.
The Lakers sacked head coach Darvin Ham, who apparently had a tense relationship with Russell, as soon as their season came to an abrupt end. It goes without saying that their new head coach would want to be involved in any future plans involving Russell in particular and the entire group in general.
James, who also has a player option for the upcoming season and may become a free agent if he so desires, must also be taken into account in this planning. The 39-year-old might, however, be more inclined to re-sign on a three-year contract with a final-year option.
