The Los Angeles Lakers have made a number of questionable personnel decisions over the past few seasons. One decision they made that looks vindicated now is moving on from D'Angelo Russell as he is struggling on his new team.
Russell was used as the primary outgoing salary last December when the Lakers traded for Dorian Finney-Smith. It was not an obvious decision at the time; the Brooklyn Nets surely wanted Russell's expiring contract over Gabe Vincent or another longer-term deal, but the Lakers traded away a rotation player with a lot of Lakers history in Russell.
When Dorian Finney-Smith walked in free agency this summer after a blowout first-round playoff loss, the question was raised: Did the Lakers make a mistake moving on from D'Angelo Russell? As they entered a season with serious depth questions, would they regret letting Russell walk instead of keeping him around? Given that Russell signed for just the $5.7 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, the questions only got louder.
Those questions have now entirely disappeared. Perhaps Horton could still hear them, but everyone questioning moving on from Russell has largely stopped talking.
From the Lakers' side, that has come because they have the best point guard rotation in the league. Luka Doncic is balling out, Austin Reaves has proven himself not simply a high-scoring off-guard but a capable on-ball playmaker and one of the league's best scorers. Gabe Vincent has returned to form as he shakes off his significant recent injuries.
The more massive vindication is coming from Russell himself, however, as he has fallen flat on his face in his new home.
D'Angelo Russell is really struggling
Russell signed this summer with the Dallas Mavericks, a team in desperate need of a point guard. Starter Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and will not be back until 2026, and after trading away Luka Doncic, there was not a ready-made replacement on the roster.
The path was clear for Russell to take hold of the starting point guard duties and run with them. Instead, he was abysmal in training camp, to the point that head coach Jason Kidd pushed him to the bench and shoehorned 6'9" rookie Cooper Flagg in at point guard to start the season.
Such lineups went disastrously, so Russell eventually got his shot to start. His time as a starter lasted exactly three games, and in those games, the Mavericks lost to the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies, and just barely eked out a win over the Washington Wizards. Russell averaged eight points and three assists while going a cumulative -57.
Kidd unsurprisingly yoinked him out of the starting lineup, at first starting journeyman guard Brandon Williams and then elevating undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard, who has proven to be a revelation. In a couple of games, Russell was a healthy scratch.
For the season, Russell is shooting just 40.3 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from deep. His turnover percentage is the highest it has been in a decade, and his overall impact is hugely negative.
Can Russell bounce back? It's certainly possible. He has largely been disappointing over the course of his career and was a fake All-Star in 2018-19, but he has been better than this. As the season goes on, perhaps he can find his groove and recapture the backup point guard role.
One thing is clear: the Lakers were right to move off of him when they did. Whatever their team needs, it's not what Russell can provide. They have the ultimate vindication for moving on from the longtime Lakers point guard.