After his first spell with the Lakers didn’t quite come to fruition, D’Angelo Russell hopes that things will be different in this second one. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, a journalist from ESPNThe point guard is confident that he can renew with the Los Angeles franchise for several seasons and be part of the future of the team, and it seems that the organization would be happy with the idea.
Russell, who had wanted to return to the Lakers for years, was transferred in 2017 after spending his first two seasons in the league with them, and after playing in Brooklyn, Golden State and Minnesota he returned in this last transfer market in an attempt to Pelinka for improving the backcourt Of the template. Despite the fact that D’Angelo has only been able to play six gold and purple games, this movement seems to be confirming itself as successful, since its impact in this section has been more than positive and is helping the team to continue climbing positions to fight to sneak into the play-in.
The point guard will be a free agent this summer, although he could avoid this situation if he reaches an extension with the franchise that guarantees his continuity. If he didn’t, the Lakers would still have his Bird Rights to try to keep him in free agency, although they would risk allowing him to trade with other teams and being tempted to abandon his desire to stay in Los Angeles.
Russell is averaging 19.2 points and 6 assists in his first games under Darvin Ham, and he’s proving a much better fit for the roster than Russell Westbrook. At 26, he is still a player with a lot of basketball to give and who can have the success he dreamed of achieving on the team when he arrived at 19, and being important in this fight for the postseason would be a good way to start.
(Cover photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
