One of the biggest moves in the NBA this offseason was the Los Angeles Lakers trading away D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. How did he feel about the trade?
With the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers had hoped that they drafted a player that could change the franchise. With Kobe Bryant’s career coming to a close, there was a lot of pressure on D’Angelo Russell to be the next franchise player for the Lakers.
Alongside Bryant, Russell’s rookie season was certainly a challenging one. Bryant would dominate the ball during the games he played, and it wasn’t an ideal situation for Russell to grow as a point guard.
Despite it being Kobe’s farewell tour, Russell was able to average 13.2 points per game. However, he only averaged 3.3 assists, which was a bit disappointing. Last season, Russell did take a step forward. He was able to average 15.6 points and 4.8 assists per game.
As an early pick by the Lakers just two seasons ago, it was very shocking to see Russell traded this offseason. However, with a new front office, it was pretty clear that everyone not named Brandon Ingram was available to be traded.
The Lakers decided that moving Russell was the best way for them to get rid of one of their awful contracts in Timofey Mozgov. Along with Mozgov, the Lakers were able to acquire Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick from the Nets. That pick ended up being Kyle Kuzma. Overall, the Lakers did pretty well in the trade it appears.
For Russell, Brooklyn presents him with a fresh start and an opportunity to shine. Like the Lakers, the Nets are rebuilding and Russell is now one of the key pieces for them moving forward. In a recent interview on WFAN in New York, Russell had this to say about joining the Nets via NetsDaily.com
"“I was excited. I was excited to get a new opportunity to start over, but it definitely caught me off guard. You see guys get traded you never think it would have to be you until it does. New step for me.”"
With the Nets, Russell appears to be their best player on paper as of now. He will be joining a young team that is looking to grow under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
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As Russell mentions, he is excited about the opportunity. As he should be. Atkinson is one of the best guard coaches in the league, and Russell will be able to learn a lot from him. With a lot of talent, Russell could shine in Brooklyn.