D'Angelo Russell's New Chapter with Brooklyn Nets

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers made a significant trade, their first in nearly two years. They sent D'Angelo Russell, along with Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks, to the Brooklyn Nets. In exchange, they received Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. This deal is a win-win for both teams. The Lakers immediately improve their roster, while the Nets continue their strategy of losing games to secure a better draft pick in the 2024-25 season. This isn't the first time the Lakers and Nets have traded Russell, but this time he heads to Brooklyn with different expectations. The Nets are looking to lose games and possibly make more trades to do so. For Russell, this could be both a challenge and an opportunity. He's eager to prove his worth for a new contract this summer. A source close to Russell shared that he's excited about the new opportunity, especially since his role with the Lakers was diminishing. Russell will likely be the primary ball-handler in Brooklyn. There's been no talk of a buyout, which makes sense given his current contract limits his options if he were to be bought out. It's probably best for Russell to stay put and put up big numbers. However, his market value has been declining since his 2023 postseason performance led to a two-year deal with the Lakers, with no option to opt out of this season's $18 million salary. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged Russell's contributions in a statement. He thanked Russell for his time with the team and wished him well in his future with the Nets.