D'Angelo Russell deleted a post on X recently where he quoted a fan who claimed he could get just as hot as Stephen Curry during games. Russell said that he agreed with the post, but wouldn't let it stay up too long, as he would ultimately delete the post, but eagle-eyed fans would end up screenshotting the post, as it makes the rounds on social media.
"You guys realize D-Lo gets hot like Curry did yesterday? Or should we just ignore the facts?"
D'Angelo Russell is a player who has come under fire several times while playing for the Lakers. Russell has had some poor playoff performances with the Lakers, something that is not entirely new for him. While Russell is a talented player, his playoff history can be described as inconsistent at best.
Russell hasn't just played alongside LeBron James but also played briefly with Stephen Curry. Russell signed for the Warriors in 2019 but got to play very little with Curry, who sustained an injury in the early part of the 2019-20 season, forcing him to miss the season. Russell would be traded at the deadline to the Timberwolves.
It was reported recently that the Lakers were willing to part ways with D'Angelo Russell. But so far, they haven't been able to find a deal or a team willing to take Russell while providing adequate compensation. The Trail Blazers reportedly said no to D-Lo in any potential deal for Jerami Grant.
It could be that Russell's trade value is really low, which would mean the Lakers front office would have to come up with creative ways to use Russell in any potential trade. Furthermore, Russell being on an expiring contract makes him even less valuable, even to a team that might be looking to tank next season.
Lakers Will Need To Be Creative To Trade Russell
The Lakers desperately need to improve their roster if they want to capitalize on the pairing of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and try and win a championship. As good a player as Russell is, the Lakers have hit their ceiling with him, and need to improve, whether that be at the guard position or their overall depth.
Russell is going to have to be used as a makeweight for any deal for a big star, especially since the Lakers are already right under the second apron of the salary cap. Plus, GM Rob Pelinka's seeming reluctance to part ways with the Lakers draft capital makes any deal for a star player all the more difficult.
We pitched a mock trade for Stephen Curry that landed him with the Lakers. Granted, this deal is a lot more complicated than just the players involved, but Russell would be sent back to the Warriors in this deal. Russell will hope to prove fans and GMs wrong with a good season, especially as he becomes a free agent next year.
