Lakers Expected To Sign $138 Million All-Star in Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have to be really careful this offseason. They made the second round of the postseason and have a chance to make the NBA Finals again. The front office will have a busy offseason and the Lakers are expected to sign a talented All-Star.

According to Eric Pincus from Bleacher Report, the Lakers will re-sign D’Angelo Russell in the offseason. Russell will enter the open marker in the summer and the Lakers will do their best to keep him in LA.

“Russell has been a welcome fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the viable floor spacer Russell Westbrook couldn’t be for the team,” Pincus wrote. “L.A. may not offer as much as he’s currently earning ($31.4 million in the final year of his deal), but Russell could earn a similar deal to Jalen Brunson’s $26 million-per-year contract.”

“The Lakers will have to mind the rest of their roster to avoid significant tax penalties with the new rules, but that shouldn’t get in the way of bringing back the 27-year-old guard. Russell could look for more elsewhere but may find the market is sparse. Most of the teams that could use him can’t afford him. The teams with money that may need a point guard include the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz. Houston may prefer Kevin Porter Jr. over Russell, assuming James Harden doesn’t join the franchise. The Magic, who have several young guards like Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, may not target Russell.

“A return to Los Angeles seems inevitable,” Pincus added in his May 3 column called “2023 NBA Free Agency: Best Available Guards and Their Top Landing Spots.”

Lakers would be happy to sign the All-Star in the offseason

Russell joined the Lakers at the right time. Rob Pelinka made a move to get him at the trade deadline and Russell got the best of this opportunity. In 17 regular-season games, the veteran averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.4% from beyond the arc.

Russell would gladly re-sign with the Lakers. He likes the team and sees himself as their point guard.

“D’Angelo Russell very much wanted a second chance in LA with the Lakers and you’ve seen the impact he made coming back against Toronto the other night, playing great in a win, and again tonight,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on March 12 (h/t RealGM). “He wants to be the point guard of the future for this organization. He’ll be a free agent this summer.”