Veteran D’Angelo Russell Gets Real On Future With Lakers

D’Angelo Russell was the right piece of the puzzle last season. The Los Angeles Lakers offered him a deal and Russell got the best of his new opportunity. However, his struggles in the postseason made fans think that the Lakers will let him go in the offseason. It didn’t happen and the front office re-signed him. Russell would love to play with the Lakers in the future, but he has a chance to test the open market.

NBA analysts have been asking a lot of questions about Russell’s future with the Lakers and he shared his opinion on the topic.

“I’d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now,” Russell told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto in a March 27 story. “Obviously, I’ve been on the other side of it, and I’ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I’m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I’ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”

In the 2023-24 NBA season, Russell averaged 18.2 points and 6.4 assists per game with the Lakers while shooting 46.3% from the field and 42.3% from the three-point line.

Russell could leave the Lakers, sign with another team in the future

Russell is a talented player and he won’t have trouble finding a home in the NBA. According to Scotto, he could play with the Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz. Each of these teams can make a move and sign him.

“With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs on rookie-scale contracts and Wendell Carter on a team-friendly deal, rival executives believe the Magic are a team to monitor this offseason to make a notable upgrade and improve their shooting,” Scotto wrote. “Should Orlando have interest in Russell during free agency, he could play on or off the ball alongside Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs.”