Lakers Rumors: D’Angelo Russell ‘Likely’ to Opt Out of Contract, Hit NBA Free Agency

Adam WellsApril 26, 2024

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As the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to pull off a miracle while down 3-0 against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, D’Angelo Russell’s future with the team is a looming question.

On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast (starts at 39:40 mark), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believes it’s “likely” that Russell will turn down his player option for next season to become a free agent.

Russell signed a two-year, $36 million deal to remain in Los Angeles last offseason. The second year is a player option worth $18.7 million.

Even though Russell wasn’t technically on an expiring contract, the nature of his deal made it such that the Lakers at least tried to dangle him in trade talks during the season.

When the Lakers were connected to Atlanta Hawks guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, Russell was being talked about as a player who would have gone back to Atlanta.

Per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers’ initial offer to the Hawks for Murray was Russell, rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round pick and additional draft compensation, but Atlanta had no interest in taking back Russell.

Instead, the Lakers stood pat and hoped they would make a run down the stretch. That strategy paid off as far as getting the team into the playoffs. They won 12 of their final 15 games in the regular season and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament for the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

Russell was a significant part of Los Angeles’ success in the regular season. He averaged 18.0 points and shot a career-high 41.5 percent from three-point range on 7.2 attempts per game.

Based on those numbers, Russell will almost certainly earn more on his next deal than the $18.7 million he would be owed by exercising his option.

The flaws Russell has had throughout his career have shown up in the playoffs against the Nuggets. He’s a streaky shooter who went 1-of-9 from behind the arc in Game 1 and was scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting in Game 3.

Russell did have a 23-point performance on 7-of-11 three-point shooting in Game 2, but most of that came in the first half. He scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting after the intermission.

There are enough teams that need shooting help, including the Lakers, who could give Russell a lucrative new deal this summer that it makes perfect sense he would want to test free agency.