Lakers HC Advised To Do ‘Best Thing’ For D’Angelo Russell, Team

The Los Angeles Lakers brought most of their players back and head coach Darvin Ham will be working with a familiar group. D’Angelo Russell is back with the team and the Lakers HC will have to find a way to get the best of him.

Greg Swartz from Bleacher Report has a big suggestion for the Lakers head coach. According to him, Russell should embrace the sixth-man role.

“This may not be a fun conversation to have between Russell and head coach Darvin Ham,” wrote Swartz on September 1. “Moving the 27-year-old to a sixth man role may be the best thing for both him and the franchise.”

Russell to embrace a different role with the team, the Lakers HC has a busy offseason

The Lakers gave Russell a two-year deal worth $36 million. He was a regular starter in the season, but his postseason wasn’t really successful.

Enter Gabe Vincent. He got a three-year deal worth $33 million.

Gabe Vincent TOOK OVER Game 3!

🔥 29 points (playoff career high)
🔥 6 threes (playoff career high)
🔥 11-14 shooting

MIA can clinch Finals berth Tuesday on TNT pic.twitter.com/iBylN4kBlf

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2023

“In a starting lineup that already features LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, the Lakers would be better off with Vincent’s steady hand at point guard,” Swartz detailed. “The move would also be good for Russell, giving him more scoring opportunities by coming off the bench with the second unit.”

Vincent brings a different skillset and Russell has his own powers as well. How will Ham handle these two? We have a few good reasons to believe that Russell will get a bigger role than Vincent.

“Gabe Vincent may not be the most talented player the Lakers added this summer,” wrote Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report on August 20. “On paper, Vincent looks like a seamless fit with LeBron James.”

The Lakers got Russell for a reason and gave him a deal for an even greater deal. He turned out to be a good addition late in the regular season. Will he stay in LA?

“Russell can still explode for some random 30-point nights and inject some energy off the bench with his scoring chops,” Swartz wrote. “All while Vincent (1.4 turnovers per game) helps play mistake-free basketball in the opening lineup while letting the stars shine.”