D’Angelo Russell: As the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated a strong start to the season with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, speculation continues to mount about D’Angelo Russell’s future with the team. NBA insider Jovan Buha recently commented on a potential trade scenario for Russell on the “Buha’s Block” podcast, suggesting that the Lakers could be open to exploring options for the point guard as the midseason trade deadline approaches.
While Russell’s performance in Game 1 — where he scored nine points on 4-for-12 shooting — didn’t exactly influence the decisions, his role remains under the microscope. “I think at least, if they look really good and this continues, I think you should at least consider attaching a first-round pick to someone like Gabe,” Buha noted. [Vincent] Or Vanderbilt.”
This leaves Russell’s future uncertain. After setting a Lakers record for the most three-pointers in a single season last year, Russell’s impact on the court was significant, although his playoff performance and defense were scrutinized. His expiring contract could make him an attractive trade asset for teams looking to manage salary, especially with the Lakers likely needing another reliable ball-handler to ease the burden on LeBron James.
The Lakers face a pivotal choice: either keep the team as is or swing at a championship-level trade. Either path could result in significant changes to Russell’s position on the roster, underscoring the high stakes for him and the franchise as the season progresses.