NBA Trade Rumors: Potential landing spots for Lakers' D'Angelo Russell
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Rumor has it several teams have reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers about a potential D'Angelo Russell trade. Which teams could be serious players for his services?
On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers' wish came true. The 2017 NBA Draft Lottery came and went, and they were still in possession of their own first round pick. As if that wasn't enough, they actually moved up one spot, with Lady Luck dropping the No. 2 overall pick into their laps.
That immediately spurred interest in D'Angelo Russell from around the league, according to Sports Illustrated's Jake Fischer. Word is there are multiple teams "evaluating trade packages" for the 2015 No. 2 overall pick.
Why? Well it's assumed Magic Johnson and Co. will take a point guard with the No. 2 pick, seeing as the unquestioned top two talents of the 2017 draft class happen to play that position.
With the Lakers having a shot at whoever's left over between Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, Russell essentially becomes a redundant talent on their roster. They could move him to shooting guard and cement Jordan Clarkson as the sixth man. However, it's almost better to cash in on Russell's potential and cheap contract by trading him away.
If that truly is the case, it begs the question of which teams are actually interested? And furthermore, which teams can offer something Magic actually wants?
That's why I've decided to take a look at a few clubs who could be serious players for Russell if he's made available by the Lakers. It seems crazy considering many see him as Los Angeles' franchise player, but that's what happens when a rising star like Fultz or Ball becomes available.
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Chicago Bulls
Realistically, the Bulls shouldn't be opposed to a rebuild this offseason. With the inner turmoil that plagued the team this past season, it wouldn't be surprising to see several players no longer on the roster come October.
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So why not move some pieces around? One way to do that would be to make a deal for Russell. That deal would likely include Jimmy Butler, but it would also entail the Lakers sending more assets. Maybe Los Angeles gives up Luol Deng to make the trade work financially, along with the No. 28 pick in this year's draft and other assets Chicago might want.
Either way, there are options available if the Lakers want this to happen. They were rumored to have had interest in Butler prior to the trade deadline, but obviously a deal never came to fruition. If the Bulls are ready to move on from Rajon Rondo and find a cheaper alternative at point guard, Russell could be the solution.
Rondo's 2017-18 is non-guaranteed, but the Bulls will likely keep him. He was a positive voice in the locker room for the young players and could mentor Russell as well. It's not a solve-all for a team that needs a lot of help, but it gives them a fresh start at point guard on a number of levels.
As for the Lakers, they get their star scorer. Butler lands with a team that actually wants him. Russell isn't forced into shooting guard duties with the pending addition of Fultz or Ball. Seems like this situation solves a lot of problems.
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks
Right now, Carmelo Anthony seems like the NBA star most likely to find a new home this offseason. Phil Jackson and the Knicks are eager to sever ties with the scoring machine, and will be looking far and wide for a chance to unload him in the coming months.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were enticed by the opportunity to add Russell to the roster. It's not like Derrick Rose proved to be a capable playmaker at point guard this past season. There's a good chance New York moves on from the injury-prone guard this offseason, which would leave a significant hole at the 1-spot heading into the 2017-18 campaign.
Luckily for the Knicks, there's an exciting young guard who may have just found his way onto the trade block.
Now there are a number of ways this one could hypothetically go down. The Lakers could work out a deal in which Russell and Anthony are swapped, with some other players/picks mixed in. Or, New York's No. 8 selection in the upcoming draft could get involved.
That obviously wouldn't solve the Carmelo issue, but he may not be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a rebuilding team like Los Angeles. If the Knicks were desperate enough to acquire Russell, though, they could give up the pick — he might be better than any prospect who would be available at that point anyway.
That leaves the Lakers with the No. 2 and No. 8 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft. That yields them a potential superstar guard and another running mate who can help round out a roster that's only a couple of pieces away from contending.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Pacers
You knew this one was coming, right?
For months now, there's been speculation about a potential pairing of the Lakers and Paul George. While it was originally assumed Los Angeles would need to wait until 2018 free agency, there's now been talk of Magic swinging a deal to speed up the process.
Including Russell in the deal may just be enough to bring PG-13 to Hollywood. While the Indiana Pacers don't necessarily need help at point guard, Jeff Teague is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Instead of paying big bucks to bring him back, they can acquire Russell and his affordable contract.
The former No. 2 overall pick is a cheaper option than Teague with significantly more upside considering the age gap. Russell is still only scratching the surface of his potential, which I'm sure a middle-of-the-road franchise like the Pacers would love to tap into.
Then there's the whole part of the Lakers getting their guy. George (and maybe someone such as Aaron Brooks) goes to L.A. with the Pacers getting Russell, a big contract and a draft pick or two in return. It's not ideal for Indiana to lose their superstar, but it's better than watching him walk via free agency in 2018.
I honestly think Magic is interested in taking drastic measures to acquire George. He doesn't catch me as the type of guy who wants to sit around waiting for next year. Chances are the Lakers see if there's anything here first before calling other teams.
