A masterstroke by JJ Reddick, and the Los Angeles Lakers are suddenly considering not trading D’Angelo Russell. Russell, who was having a poor run, was expected to be traded off soon. However, there has been a substantial improvement in his performance ever since Reddick has asked Russell to go back to the bench. Surely, things were a little tough initially, but Russell has smoothly transitioned into the role.
Thus, from the looks of it, the 25-year-old might just have saved his stint with the purple and gold brigade. “In talking to sources close to the Lakers, Russell playing well in this role might make them a little more reluctant to part with him, as bench unit seriously struggled with Gabe Vincent at the helm,” quoted Anthony Irwin from ClutchPoints.
The Lakers may be reluctant to trade D’Angelo Russell now that he has become impactful in his new role, per @AnthonyIrwinLA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 19, 2024
“In talking to sources close to the Lakers, Russell playing well in this role might make them a little more reluctant to part with him, as bench unit… pic.twitter.com/cDTnZGT4uk
He also opined that given the role Russell is carrying out this season, the Lakers would want him to consistently keep leading the secondary unit. And if they do have to go for a trade, then the Lakers will surely look around for some more reliable prospects. However, this can be a tricky situation for the Lakers. On one hand, Russell staying with the Lakers will add volume to their team.
On the contrary, his market value will likely be going up following his impressive run. Thus, the Lakers might miss out on some big bucks if they decide not to trade him at all. Now, with such a dilemma in the minds of the Lakers’ authorities, here’s a glimpse at why D’Angelo Russell is creating the ripples this year.
A Look At D’Angelo Russell’s Impressive Stats
Having started eight games this season, Russell averaged 12 points, with 2.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.1 blocks. However, his shooting caused a major concern among the team. Russell shot only 37.5% from the field and 29.2 % from the three-point line. But things soon changed after he was advised to start as a substitute.
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In the next five games, starting from the bench, Russell averaged 12.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Add to that an impressive hike in his shooting percentage. His field shooting has gone up to 46.0%, whereas Russell is shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc. Remarkable indeed! Thus, with rejuvenated zeal, D’Angelo Russell will surely look to continue his merry run. And as for the Lakers, this is a happy headache for them to have.
