Fansided

Lakers Trade Rumors: Teams looking into D’Angelo Russell deal

By Cody Williams

Mar 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakes guard D'Angelo Russell (1) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. The Wizards won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakes guard D'Angelo Russell (1) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. The Wizards won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After the result of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery, teams are reportedly readying trade packages for Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell

There was a definitive sense of concern entering the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery for the Los Angeles Lakers. Though they finished with the third-worst record in the league, that didn’t guarantee them a top-three pick. In fact, the odds of the NBA Draft Lottery were actually better that they’d fall out of the top-three than not. And that would’ve been worst-case scenario as a pick at No. 4 or lower would send the selection the the Philadelphia 76ers.

Call it luck, call it rigged or just say that they were fortunate, but the Lakers didn’t have to worry about that. With Magic Johnson in the building in New York as the team’s representative, the purple and gold were awarded the No. 2 overall pick.

Given the way that the 2017 NBA Draft is expected to shake out, the Lakers will have their choice of whichever player from Washington point guard Markelle Fultz and UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball that the Boston Celtics don’t take with the top pick. But considering that D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson are already in LA, that could create a crowded backcourt. Apparently other teams around the league are very aware of this as well.

Almost immediately after the NBA Draft Lottery, Jake Fischer of SI.com reported that “multiple teams are evaluating trade packages” for Russell. Obviously considering the immediacy of the reports, there’s no word on if the Lakers are interested or not.

However, it makes complete sense that they would be an why other teams would covet the No. 2 overall pick from 2015. The Lakers are rebuilding and don’t need redundancy in the backcourt, which the assumed pick of Ball and Russell would create. Thus, getting assets for Russell would put them in a better position moving forward while having a potentially higher-upside player in Ball.

Next: 10 Biggest NBA Draft Mistakes of All-Time

Meanwhile, there are plenty of teams in need of a point guard with the skill-set of Russell, and trading for one still on a rookie deal is an enticing proposition. Thus, this seems like a deal that could gain steam from here throughout the offseason.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers