The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for an upgrade at point guard. It's one of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA, with current starter D'Angelo Russell the unfortunate inclusion in a steady stream of rumors that simply refuse to go away.
As the Lakers weigh their options in terms of how they can realistically improve, however, it's becoming clear that it's a task that's easier said than done.
Russell, 28, kicked off the 2024 NBA offseason by accepting his $18,692,307 player option. In turn, he's currently slated to return to the Lakers for the 2024-25 season before entering unrestricted free agency next summer.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, that's an outcome that the Lakers are attempting to avoid, as general manager Rob Pelinka has been shopping Russell since he accepted his player option.
""If you are the Lakers, and you are potentially doing a D-Lo trade at some point, as they have been shopping him and trying to move him since he opted in..."
Russell has been one of the most productive players on the Lakers since joining the team in 2022-23, but his postseason woes have led Los Angeles to explore other options.
Russell finished the 2023-24 regular season with averages of 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on .456/.415/.828 shooting. Unfortunately, his 0-of-7 performance in Game 3 of the Lakers' first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets was indicative of the inconsistency that's marred his postseason career.
With this in mind, the question is simple: Who exactly can the Lakers acquire as an actual upgrade over what Russell provides?
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland has made it clear that he doesn't want to be traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In that same report, recently hired Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson went on record to say that he's excited to see what he can do with Garland and Donovan Mitchell sharing a backcourt.
If cracks begin to show in Cleveland in 2024-25, however, it's plausible that the Lakers could coordinate a trade for Garland that would reunite Atkinson with Russell.
Garland and Mitchell have produced impressive results as a tandem, but there's a perceived ceiling for them as an undersized backcourt. As such, it's possible that Cleveland will look to hit the reset button if team results are less than elite during the 2024-25 season.
In that scenario, Russell could provide a temporary answer with an expiring contract and the history of reaching the playoffs and making an All-Star game while playing for Atkinson with the Brooklyn Nets.
As for how Garland fits in Los Angeles, he's one of the best all-around offensive point guards in the NBA. Since his All-Star season in 2021-22, he's averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 three-point field goals made on .458/.389/.866 shooting.
Throw in the fact that Garland has been better in the postseason than Russell, and this could be a perfect fit for the Lakers and the beginning of a new vision for the Cavaliers.