Lakers Rumors: D’Angelo Russell might be open to a possible return

Recent Lakers rumors are that D’Angelo Russell might be open to the idea of a return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

With free agency right around the corner, there have been plenty of Lakers rumors about how the Lakers will be rounding out the roster with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

A lot of what the Lakers will do will depend on how much cap space that they will have. While this is still an uncertainty, the Lakers could have as much as $32 million to spend this offseason.

Having that type of cap space will provide the Lakers with a lot of options. They could pursue a star player or fill out the roster with some talented depth. Both options certainly have their pros and cons, but it seems like the Lakers will be trying to add a third star before they settle on adding role players.

One of the players that has had his name linked to the Lakers recently is D’Angelo Russell. As a former Laker, here is what Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report said about a possible reunion.

"Russell’s breakup with the Lakers wasn’t pretty, but it’s difficult to hold grudges in this league. With Johnson gone, some close to Russell have indicated he may be open to the idea if Brooklyn isn’t in the picture."

As Pincus mentions, the fallout from the Russell trade was certainly notable. By trading Russell, the Lakers were able to clear the awful contract of Timofey Mozgov, which helped lead them to the signing of LeBron James last summer.

As a young player with the Lakers, Russell showed promise. However, he really broke out with the Nets last season. Russell was named to his first All-Star team, and was arguably the best player on a Nets team that made the postseason.

Despite Russell playing well for the Nets, Brooklyn has been linked heavily to Kyrie Irving this summer. If Irving did end up going to Brooklyn, it would seem like almost a certainty that Russell would not be re-signed.

Due to Russell being traded by the Lakers, it would be interesting to see his potential interest in coming back. However, as a guard, Russell would certainly fill a need for the Lakers. As a good shooter, Russell would be a good fit if he were to return.