To the surprise of many, the Los Angeles Lakers traded D’Angelo Russell this offseason. How will he do with the Brooklyn Nets?
One of the biggest surprises just before the 2017 NBA Draft was when the Los Angeles Lakers sent D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick.
As the former second overall pick, it was very surprising to some that Russell was traded by the Lakers. However, with a new front office, changes like this aren’t all that uncommon. Presidents and general managers like to have their own people in place, and Russell was a casualty of the regime change. Also, the Lakers had to get rid of someone that was valuable in order to get rid of the awful contract of Mozgov.
In his first two seasons with the Lakers, Russell averaged 14.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. While the numbers aren’t crazy, there were nights in Los Angeles that Russell looked like he had what it took to be a star in this league.
Now with the Nets, Russell might be in a better situation to reach that potential. While the Lakers likely won’t be a great team next season, there is still more upside for them right now compared to the Nets.
Since the trade with the Boston Celtics a few years ago, the Nets have been an absolute mess. However, they have a new regime in town with Kenny Atkinson and Sean Marks. Both are well-respected basketball minds, and they hope to turn things around in the coming years. For Russell, he will have a chance to shine in Brooklyn. Here are three reasons why he will.