The Los Angeles Lakers need a point guard and one of their former guards who was traded only two years ago might be on his way back, in large part because of who is no longer part of the Lakers organization.
Magic Johnson traded Russell in June of 2017 along with Timofey Mozgov to both create salary cap room and acquire a draft pick that became Kyle Kuzma. Johnson also made the trade to make way for Lonzo Ball, who is also no longer with the Lakers.
This is what Johnson said at the time about Russell, via ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
“D’Angelo is an excellent player,” Johnson said Friday when the Lakers introduced their top draft pick, point guard Lonzo Ball, at their practice facility. “He has the talent to be an All-Star. We want to thank him for what he did for us. But what I needed was a leader. I needed somebody also that can make the other players better and also [somebody] that players want to play with.”
Oh how the tables have turned. Russell now has the option to return and apparently has interest, especially because Johnson is no longer running the basketball operations of the Lakers, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Russell’s breakup with the Lakers wasn’t pretty, but it’s difficult to hold grudges in this league. With Johnson gone, some close to Russell have indicated he may be open to the idea if Brooklyn isn’t in the picture.
The Brooklyn Nets are expected to chase and acquire Kyrie Irving this summer, while they’re also looking to add another max salary player to go with him and their young group. Russell fills a need for the Lakers at point guard and also gives LeBron James another perimeter player who can shoulder the offensive load for stretches.
If things fall through with Irving and the Nets, Russell may find his way back there. But even if that isn’t the case, the Minnesota Timberwolves believe they have a chance at adding Russell even though they have to jump through more hoops in order to create the cap space the Lakers already have available.
What seemed impossible only a few months ago seems like a very real possibility. Russell can go back to his first NBA home once again and he may very well want to now.
