Lakers can trade D'Angelo Russell for Collin Sexton, Bruce Brown Jr. and more realistic targets
- runaway 2024/11/08 10:12
- 0 0
Things are starting to get bumpy for D'Angelo Russell in Los Angeles.
Russell has started the 2024-25 season on a cold streak, hitting just 14 of his first 48 3s for a 29.2 percent mark. Making matters worse, JJ Redick very publicly criticized Russell's competitive spirit and attention to detail in a bad loss to the Grizzlies that dropped the team to 4-4 on the year.
Russell is on an expiring $18.7 million contract. That makes him the easiest player on the roster to trade. He would almost certainly be included as one of multiple players in a move for a superstar, along with the two first-round picks Los Angeles has available to trade.
The Lakers have been reticent to let go of those picks in the past. If they instead aimed for a smaller move, there are a number of players who could address the team's dismal 3-point shooting in a one-for-one or two-for-two player swap that would also keep some of the team's draft assets available for bigger moves down the line.
Here are the types of players that the Lakers could get for Russell if they decide to move on from him.
Lakers trade targets
The Lakers are prevented from taking on any additional salary in trades because they are above the first apron. There are some starter-quality guards who make less than Russell and are therefore easy swaps with him.
Malcolm Brogdon, Wizards
Brogdon is only two years removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year with the Celtics. He's a smart player whose team defense and career 39.1 percent shooting from 3 would fit well with the Lakers.
Injury risks are always a concern for him — he played in only 39 games last year and is already out to start the 2024-25 season with a broken thumb. But he is gettable on a bad Wizards team. It wouldn't cost much to get him to Los Angeles. Russell and some second-rounders might be enough.
Collin Sexton, Jazz
Sexton has quietly been the Jazz' second-best player since getting traded there three seasons ago. He's a very good driver and shot-creator who has hit 38.3 percent of his 3s and averaged 18.8 points per game for his career. While he's not a great defensive player, he does give good effort and intensity, both of which have been lacking with Russell.
The Jazz would want to hold onto Sexton if their goal were to win games this year, but they've been somewhat shameless in tanking over the previous few seasons, and they might be doing it again. They moved Sexton to the bench for two games in place of a much worse player in Jordan Clarkson, looking to cash in on their Cooper Flagg odds early.
It wouldn't take much to get Sexton off that team — Russell and a protected first-round pick would be sufficient.
Bruce Brown Jr., Raptors
We're breaking some rules here. Brown makes $4.3 million more than Russell, so at least one additional Laker would need to be included to make this trade work. But Brown is the type of Swiss army knife player the Lakers have been missing.
Brown has shown he can play minutes for a championship team, as he did with the Nuggets two years ago. He can playmake a little bit, shoot open 3s and play tough defense across multiple positions. The Raptors exercised his $23 million option mostly to use him as a trade chip, so he could be had for a middling draft pick.
Coby White, Bulls
White is the best player on this list. The former lottery pick exploded for the Bulls last season, finishing runner-up in Most Improved Player voting while averaging 19.1 points per game. He's always been a good high-volume 3-point shooter, hitting 37.0 percent of his career looks. And at 24 years old, he still has some room for improvement.
It's odd that White would be available given his age on a rebuilding Bulls team, but they're not going to be able to extend him on his current three-year, $36 million contract and risk losing him for nothing once he hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026. This could be a chance for the Bulls to sell high on a player who might not be around by the time they're good again.
The price for White would be high because he's a good young starter who the Bulls are in no hurry to move. It would take Russell along with multiple picks to get this done.
Related News
Al-Hilal decide to axe ex-Chelsea star so Neymar can be registered for Saudi Pro League action
11 hours ago
Man Utd receive major setback in chase for wonderkid Kenan Yildiz
11 hours ago
Ronaldinho to become a grandfather at 45!
11 hours ago
Will Harry Kane start for England at the World Cup?
12 hours ago
Kompany on Harry Kane's absence
13 hours ago
Vincent Kompany’s press conference before DFB Cup tie at home to Bayer Leverkusen
13 hours ago
Eredivisie Preview:AFC Ajax vs FC Utrecht,Game 5
13 hours ago
DFB Pokal Preview:RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt
14 hours ago
Carlo Ancelotti angry with Real Madrid
14 hours ago
DFB Pokal Preview:VfL Wolfsburg vs TSG Hoffenheim
14 hours ago
0comments
No comments available