The first domino of the Lakers offseason has reportedly fallen as D’Angelo Russell will pick up his player option for next season.
The Lakers saw the first major domino of free agency fall on Friday night as D’Angelo Russell will reportedly pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season, according to multiple reports. His contract will be worth $18.7 million next season.
D’Angelo Russell tells me he intends to opt-in to his player option and stay with The Los Angeles Lakers. His number 1 priority is to win a championship @swishcultures_
— Jordan Richard (@JordanRichardSC) June 29, 2024
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell is picking up his $18.7 million player option for next season to stay in LA, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/H44wduSZL3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2024
It’s a move that comes as a bit of a surprise. Most assumed Russell would opt out of his deal and search for more long-term money. However, with only a few teams having cap space this offseason, the options were limited.
Even then, it also comes as a surprise because this likely puts him square on the trading block yet again. While he can say his priority is to win a title with the Lakers, after another postseason that saw him stumble, the front office will likely be looking for upgrades for Russell.
However, this does give the Lakers a very big trade piece to potentially make a move with this summer. Trades under the new CBA are quite difficult, especially for teams above the first tax apron, like the Lakers. Aggregating him with any other contract will hard cap the Lakers at the second tax apron while taking back more than 110% in contracts in a trade will hard cap the Lakers at the first tax apron.
Essentially, the Lakers can only trade Russell by himself in a deal for less than $18.6 million coming back. Even as an expiring contract, it makes it tricky for the Lakers to navigate a potential trade as they look to upgrade either at point guard or elsewhere on the roster.
Upgrading from Russell will be hard, though. Last season, Russell started slow before finishing strong, and the end result was arguably the best season of his career.
Russell averaged 18 points per game, but shot 45.6% from the field and a sizzling 41.5% from the 3-point line. His effective field goal percentage of 56% was the second-best mark of his career. He also chipped in 6.3 assists.
The problems came in the playoffs where, for a second year running, Russell stumbled against the Nuggets. Alternating strong and poor performances left the Lakers without a consistent third option and, ultimately, played a role in their first-round elimination.
His strong regular season, then, gave way to the sour taste of another woeful postseason showing. That, perhaps, played a role in teams not being as interested in him this summer and, ultimately, him returning to Los Angeles.
For now, he’s a Laker once again. Perhaps he can flourish in JJ Redick’s system, but he’ll have to make it through the offseason first, which is not a given.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
