D’Angelo Russell returned to Los Angeles on the commerce deadline final season and, in the course of the common season, introduced a scoring pop from the backcourt that was desperately wanted by the Lakers.
Russell averaged 17.4 factors and 6.1 assists on 48.4/41.4/73.5 capturing splits in his 17 common season video games again with the Lakers, serving to L.A. claw their approach again into the postseason. Nonetheless, the playoffs have been a wrestle for Russell, as he couldn’t replicate that very same stage of manufacturing, averaging simply 13.3 factors on 42.6/31.0/76.9 splits in 16 postseason video games. The Lakers made it to the Western Convention Finals the place they have been swept by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.
For the Lakers and different groups eyeing Russell in free company, they’d to determine what precisely to make of the huge distinction in two comparatively small samples in Los Angeles and the place Russell belonged within the hierarchy of a really sturdy level guard market this summer season. In a bit of excellent information for L.A., they have been ready to determine the place he match into that hierarchy by coming to phrases on a brand new deal, based on Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Free agent G D’Angelo Russell has agreed on a two-year, $37 million contract to stick with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz together with Antonio Russell inform ESPN. Deal has participant choice. Lakers safe their place to begin guard. pic.twitter.com/ScrZHD7Jio
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
It’s been a really busy free company window for the Lakers, which already added former Miami Warmth guard Gabe Vincent as a member of its backcourt this summer season. Whereas the group might want to work out which of these two gamers will begin on the 1, Los Angeles absolutely will get pleasure from having choices at level guard — at the least for the following 12 months, as Russell’s deal features a participant choice.
