Lakers: Early Season Grades

Oct 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) reacts after missing a shot to end the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. The Portland Trail Blazers won 109-106. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

D’Angelo Russell: B+

2016-17 Per-Game stats: 16.1 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.8 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK

If fans weren’t convinced D’Angelo Russell was the real deal before, watching Jose Calderon man the point since Russell’s injury should turn doubters into believers.

Coming into his sophomore season, Russell had an uphill battle both on and off the court. Fans hated him because of the infamous Nick Young incident and critics weren’t pleased with the No. 2 picks performance on the court his rookie season. And then Summer League happened.

Russell looked primed for a breakout season with the Lakers under young head coach Luke Walton. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone exactly to plan.

While Russell is posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category, he’s also putting up career-high turnovers per game. His 3.1 turnovers per game leads all sophomores, with the exception of Emmanuel Mudiay who also has 3.1. Most of his turnovers are unforced, mental turnovers.

However, aside from that, Russell is slowly separating himself from the rest of his draft class. Among all guards drafted in 2015, Russell leads in 3 pointers made, assists per game, and steals. He only trails Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker for points per game.

Russell is currently sidelined with a knee injury, but his return could not come soon enough. The Lakers fell two games below .500 with a loss to the Grizzlies on Saturday, and the only guy that can get them back on track is the ice man himself. Hurry back. D’Lo.

Nick Young: A

2016-17 Per-Game stats: 14.8 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.1 BLK

You’re not going to believe this, but Nick Young has been one of the Lakers’ best players this season. How did we get here?

Well first, the Lakers tried trading him this summer. That didn’t work, so he went through training camp with no guarantee that he’d make the roster. Not only did he make roster, but he’s a starter now. On an actual NBA basketball team. WHAT?!

Hold on, this where things get real weird. Nick Young is shooting better from deep than Kyrie Irving while attempting virtually the same amount of shots. You may now lose your mind.

I can’t say enough about Young’s resurgence with the team this year. Uncle P has made Swaggy P look like more of a distant second cousin that no one likes to talk about.

There is still plenty of time for Young to screw this up, but something tells me he only gets better. Here’s to hoping I’m right.

Luol Deng: D

2016-17 Per-Game stats: 6.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.2 BLK

Raise your hand if you feel personally victimized by Luol Deng. Me too pal, me too.

Luol Deng has been almost unwatchable this season. No one was expecting him to return his All-Star level of play, but he was supposed to be a solid pickup. He has been, how do I say … not that.

He is barely playing at the level of a fringe rotation player at this point. Almost all of his 3-point attempts are hitting the front of the rim, represented by his 28.8 percent shooting from deep, and his overall field goal percentage is not much better (34.3 percent).

If the Lakers find a suitor for Deng, they should pull the trigger. Even if it’s for a half eaten bag of cool ranch Doritos, it’s a good deal. In fact, the Lakers would probably still win that trade.

Seriously, I hope this guy gets traded.

Julius Randle: B+

2016-17 Per-Game stats: 12.6 PTS, 8.7 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.5 BLK

Pop Quiz: How many players under the age of 25 have a triple double this season? Two.

One of them is an alien sent down from space – or Greece, whichever you choose to believe – to punish NBA players with normal sounding names, and the other with the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Julius Randle has been good this season. Per 36 minutes, Randle is averaging a double-double, which is good for anyone, let alone a guy who has spent only two years in the NBA.

His defense is still a work in progress, and while his playmaking ability has been spot on sometimes, other times it has been brutal.

The season is still young, but Julius Randle looks like he’s going 100 miles per hour in the right direction. Any power forward that can grab rebounds and take the ball up the court is a good player in my book.

P.S. I miss Lamar Odom